LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Chap.l:i-SX Copyright No.a-.5_._. 
Sliell_.._/_2 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE 



STORY OF PHILADELPHIA 



BY 



>^V.^. LILLIAN lONE RHOADES >>Uuo ^ 




NEW YORK •:• CINCINNATI •:• CHICAGO 
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY 



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rVVO COPIES R EC El V BE), 

Library of G9iigr«t% 
Offlat of xu 

m 7 • 1900 

Kaglltar of Cspyrtgktk 



60080' 

Copyright, 1900, by 
Lillian I. Rhoades 



STO. OF PHIL. 

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8EC0^40 COPY, 



INTRODUCTION. 



D>«^C 



The public schools should be nurseries of civic virtue. 
One of their high aims should be to train pupils to in- 
telligent and virtuous citizenship. To secure this end 
the young should be led to feel an interest in their State 
and nation. They should know the leading events of 
history, and be familiar with the heroic deeds of the pa- 
triots and statesmen whose courage and wisdom secured 
our free institutions. Their hearts should be led to beat 
in sympathy with those lofty sentiments which moved 
the hearts of the fathers to suffer and die that freedom 
might live. 

Especially should the young be familiar with the local 
events of the city in which they live. They should feel 
a pride in its institutions and in its past history. Civic 
pride is the basis of civic duty ; and the school can do 
much to awaken this pride and cultivate this sense of duty 
by calling attention to the patriotic deeds of the men and 
women who have helped to shape the city's history. 

Philadelphia is especially rich in historic associations. 
In its halls were enunciated those principles of human 
rights that gave birth to free institutions. Here were 
assembled those patriotic men whose wise words and 
brave deeds laid the foundations and gave shape to the 

5 



temple of American liberty. Here was written the 
Declaration of Independence, the most distinguished 
state paper ever drafted by human pen. Here stands 
Independence Hall, in which that Declaration was debated, 
adopted, and signed. Here, in a little house, still standing, 
was designed the American fiag, that now floats over the 
grandest nation of all time. Here, in one of our streets, 
was sent up the silken kite that proved the identity of the 
electric spark and the lightning's flash. Here are build- 
ings hallowed by the presence of Washington, Adams, 
Jefferson, and Franklin. 

Realizing the value of these influences in the education 
of youth, I have sought to give them a place in the work 
of the public schools. A need has been felt of a suitable 
book, accessible to teachers and pupils, containing an 
account of the leading events of our history. The ob- 
ject of " The Story of Philadelphia" is to meet this need 
by presenting, in condensed form, some of the most 
interesting events in the history of the city. The story 
is one of patriotic interest, and no one can follow it with- 
out feeling a deeper pride in the city and its institutions. 
As we in Philadelphia are proud of the achievements of 
the other great cities of the country, so the youth of those 
cities will feel a pride in the noted men and women whose 
lofty deeds of virtue have given honor to Philadelphia and 
to the nation. Thus "The Story of Philadelphia" may 
teach a lesson of patriotism to the youth of other cities 
as well as of Philadelphia. 

Edward Brooks, 
Superintendent of Public Schools. 



PREFACE. 



»o:^c 



The city of Philadelphia should be an object of interest 
not only to her citizens, but also to all other Americans. 
It was the birthplace of an independent commonwealth — 
the United States of America. In the military and political 
history of our country, Philadelphia occupies the foremost 
place. Here the first American flag was made and the first 
American coin struck. It was Philadelphia that organized 
the first volunteer fire company and estabhshed the first 
American law school and the first school of medicine ; and 
it was from Philadelphia that the first American arctic ex- 
pedition was sent out. 

Conspicuous as are these events, Philadelphia is yet 
more distinguished by the noble character of the men and 
women who have taken an active part in its develop- 
ment. William Penn, the wise leader and lawgiver, was 
the founder of our State and city. Francis Daniel Pastorius 
was the founder of the first German settlement in Penn- 
sylvania, at Germantown. It was Benjamin PVanklin 
who raised the standard of the press and gave to the 
world the benefit of his researches in electricity, who 
pleaded for justice in behalf of the struggling colonies 
and who first interested the French government in the 
American cause. Here lived John Bartram, who through 

7 



8 

his own exertions became the " greatest natural botanist 
in the world." Here also lived David Rittenhouse, who 
received the homage of both hemispheres, and was ac- 
counted the greatest astronomer of his time. It was 
Robert Morris who served as the financier of the Revo- 
lution, and who saved his country during its greatest 
distress; and it was Stephen Girard, the ''mariner and 
merchant," who took up the burden of finance and saved 
the nation's credit, and who subsequently established the 
most noted college in the world for the instruction of 
orphan boys. It was Lydia Darrah of Philadelphia who 
acted a heroine's part in the American Revolution; and 
it was the deft and skillful fingers of Betsy Ross that 
made the first American flag. Here lived Phoebe Ann 
Rush, a woman of noble character, who sought to estab- 
lish a democracy in society ; and here lived Rebecca Gratz, 
who became a leading philanthropist of our city and who 
was the model for Sir Walter Scott's Jewish heroine in 
" Ivanhoe." And, lastly, here lived Lucretia Mott, whose 
beautiful life and noble character gave to the world a new 
ideal of American womanhood. 

In studying " The Story of Philadelphia " the boys and 
girls of America will learn the history of their nation dur- 
ing its most critical periods, while the boys and girls of 
Philadelphia will realize that they are " citizens of no 
mean city." 

Lillian Ione Rhoades. 



CONTENTS 



The First Settlers on the Delaware 
William Penn 

Perm's Voyage and Landing 
The Early Settlers under Penn 
Penn and the Indians 
Penn's Government 
Penn and Philadelphia 
Germantown and its Founder 
Early Education in Philadelphia 
Old Swedes' Church 
Old Christ Church . 
Franklin in Philadelphia 
Franklin and his Kite 
Franklin as a Statesman 
Bartram and his Garden 
David Rittenhouse 
Carpenters' Hall 
The First Continental Congress 
The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 
Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence 
General Washington in Philadelphia 
Independence Hall .... 

9 



PAGE 
II 

18 

26 

30 
36 
42 

47 
56 

65 
76 

84 

93 
107 
114 
125 
135 
147 
153 
163 

175 
185 
197 



lO 



Independence Square 










PAGE 

207 


The Liberty Bell .... 










214 


Christopher Ludwig 










. 222 


Lydia Darrah ..... 










229 


The Battle of German town 










235 


The Mischianza .... 










248 


Robert Morris . . . . * 










. 258 


Betsy Ross and the Flag . 










269 


President Washington in Philadelphia 










281 


Congress Hall .... 










290 


Benjamin Rush .... 










300 


Stephen Girard .... 










310 


Women of Philadelphia . 










325 


Fairmount Park .... 










348 


Index 










379 




THE FIRST SETTLERS 
ON THE DELAWARE. 



A LITTLE more than two 
hundred and fifty years 
ago the site of Philadelphia 
was an unbroken forest. In- 
stead of a beautiful city of 
pleasant homes and magnifi- 
cent buildings, there were 
only the rude wigwams of the red men. In place of 
straight and busy streets vocal with the hum of the 
trolley, the narrow silent path of the Indian's trail wound 
through the forest. With the advent of the white man 
and the arts of civilization, the Indian and the forest 
passed away. 

There is a general impression that Penn and his people 
were the first settlers in Pennsylvania, but the fact is, 
parts of the province had been held alternately by the 
Dutch, the Swedes, and the English, during the fifty- 
eight years preceding Penn's arrival. Settlements had been 
made along the Delaware, homes built, fields planted, forts 
and churches erected, governments established, and the 
foundation laid for a new empire. Who these people were, 
whence they came, and how they attempted to establish 
homes in the new country, will be the story of our first 
chapter. 

II 



12 

It was the custom of the great nations of Europe four 
centuries ago to send out explorers to strange countries, 
and to give them authority to claim, in the name of the 
king or queen under whose banner they sailed, such lands 
as they might discover. In this manner the English, the 
French, the Dutch, and the Swedes claimed, at various 
times, the shores of the Delaware. The first actual dis- 
cover}- of land was made by Henry Hudson, an English- 
man, who was in the employ of the Dutch East India 
Company of Holland. On August 28, 1609, Hudson 
entered the Delaware Bay, where he remained six hours. 
Supposing the bay to be unnavigable, he put to sea, and 
sailing northward discovered the river which now bears 
his name. The Dutch upon this discovery laid claim to 
both sides of the Delaware and Hudson rivers. It has 
been claimed that Thomas West, Lord Delaware, governor 
of Virginia, visited Delaware Bay the next year ; but no 
evidence exists that he ever saw it. The English, how- 
ever, at an early date, named the bay and river in honor 
of him in order to strengthen their claim to the land. 
In 161 3-14 Captain Cornells Jacobsen Mey, in the em- 
ploy of the Dutch, explored and charted the Delaware 
Bay. He gave his surname Mey, or May, to the northern 
cape, and his Christian name Cornells to the southern 
cape. 

Captain Cornells Hendricksen, of the Dutch East India 
Company (161 5 or 16 16), was the real explorer of the 
Delaware River, and it is believed that he sailed as far 
north as the Schuylkill River. While measuring and 
sounding the river he was surprised to meet three white 
men, who told him that they had walked overland from 



13 

the Hudson settlements. From them Hendricksen re- 
ceived information regarding the interior of the province, 
and the prospects of estabHshing trading posts with the 
Indians. 

The charter of the Dutch East India Company expired 
in 1618, and in 1621 the Dutch West India Coinpany was 
organized. In 1623 they sent out a colony under Captain 
Mey, who distributed the colonists along the river, some 
settling at Trenton, others at Gloucester. Near the latter 
place, and not far from the site of Philadelphia, he built 
Fort Nassau. In December, 1621, England protested 
against foreigners occupying lands on the Delaware River. 
The Dutch, however, went on trading with the Indians, 
and commissioned De Vries, as a patroon, to colonize a 
point on the Delaware River, which he did by sending 
a ship under command of Captain Heyser, with thirty 
colonists. This colony was located at Swandale (" the 
Vale of the Swans"), the present site of Lewes, Dela- 
ware. On their arrival they set up their coat of arms on 
a post, and an Indian, thinking, perhaps, that it was an 
ornament, or good material for a tobacco pipe, walked off 
with it. This so incensed the Dutch that they had him 
executed by his own tribe. His kinsmen revenged them- 
selves by slaying the colonists and burning the settlement 
in the year 1632. When De Vries visited the shores of 
the Delaware in 1633 he found the fields of his planta- 
tion strewn with the bones of his countrymen. Instead 
of punishing the savages for this murder, he made a 
treaty of peace with them — the first treaty made on the 
Delaware between the white and the redmen. In the 
following spring he sailed up the river and cast anchor 



14 

opposite the site of Philadelphia. Fearful of the treachery 
of the Indians, he did not remain long; with a heavy 
heart he sailed southward, gathered the remainder of 
his new colony together, and left the land and waters to 
the Indians. 

In 1624 Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, planned 
to found a free state for his people in the New World. 
The king fell on the battlefield of Liitzen before his 
purpose could be accomplished, and as he lay dying he 
charged his people not to give up colonizing America. 

After the king's death his chancellor, Oxenstiern, who 
was also the guardian of the young queen, Christina, sent 
out a colony in August, 1637, under Peter Minuit, with 
instructions to settle on land belonging neither to the 
Dutch nor to the English. Minuit purchased a tract of 
land on the west shore of the Delaware from five Indian 
chiefs paying for it a copper kettle and a few small 
articles. This settlement the Swedes called New Sweden, 
and they built a fort and called it Christina, in honor of 
their queen. The Dutch protested against the presence 
of the fort, claiming the land both by the right of dis- 
covery and by purchase. The Swedes claimed the land 
by purchase, and declined controversy. On receiving a 
second protest the Swedes said the queen had as much 
right there as the Dutch, and straightway planted a post 
with the queen's initials upon it. After making provisions 
for the safety and comfort of the colony, Minuit sailed for 
home, and it is believed was lost in a storm. The colony 
was so prosperous that in a few years the Swedish govern- 
ment bought out the interest of the Dutch company. 

In 1642 John Printz was sent over to be the governor of 



15 

New Sweden. He was instructed to *' render justice with- 
out distinction, so that there may be no injury to any 
man," and the people were ordered to obey and support 
him. He established three forts on the Schuylkill River 
to protect the interests of the fur and tobacco industries, 
which were so great that in the year 1644 over 2,100 
packages of beaver skins and 70,421 pounds of tobacco 
were exported. As the success of these industries became 
known abroad, many adventurers came to the New World 
in search of a fortune. 

The English, as early as 1642, began to buy and occupy 
lands on both sides of the Delaware River and Bay, to the 
great annoyance of the Dutch and the Swedes. The 
Dutch, with the aid of the Swedish governor, destroyed 
these settlements and drove off the people. In 1645 
Andreas Hudde, sent over by the Dutch West India 
Company, purchased land at the mouth of the Schuylkill 
River, and planted upon it the national coat of arms. 
This was done to check the claims of Printz and to pro- 
tect the fur trade for the Dutch. Soon afterwards Peter 
Stuy vesant, governor of New Amsterdam (now New York), 
built a fort at New Castle, and named it Fort Casimir. 
It was situated a little below F'ort Christina, and on the 
same side of the river, thus controlling the Swedish fort. 

In 1653 Printz left the colony and returned to Swe- 
den, probably passing the new governor, John Rising, 
on the ocean. Coming up the Delaware, Rising stopped 
at Fort Casimir and demanded the surrender of the 
fort ; and the Dutch submitting, he changed its name 
to Fort Trinity, as he had taken it on Trinity Sunday. 
A few months later Governor Stuyvesant came at the 



i6 

head of a great force, and, without firing a cannon, cap- 
tured both forts and broke up the Swedish rule. In the 
following year (1656) the Dutch colony was strengthened 
by a number of families from New Amsterdam, who im- 
mediately began to build the town of New Amstel (now 
known as New Castle), Delaware. Under the Dutch, 
peace was restored, and with a fertile soil and a profitable 
industry, the people became happy and prosperous. The 
Swedes left the Dutch in possession of the fur trade, and 
moved up along the Delaware shore and northward into 
the interior, along the Schuylkill and its tributaries. 

They were thus settled when the Duke of York received 
a patent (March 12, 1664) from the King of England for 
" All the land from the west side of the Connecticut 
River to the east side of the Delaware Bay." South of this 
ill-defined line the land was claimed by Lord Baltimore. 
The English maintained their claim by arms until 1673, 
when war again broke out between the English and the 
Dutch, in which the Dutch were defeated, and the land 
now known as Pennsylvania fell into the possession of the 
Duke of York. 

In the same year war again broke out between the 
Dutch and English; the English were defeated, and the 
Dutch were enabled to hold, for a short time, their 
former possessions. In November of the following* year a 
treaty of peace between the Dutch and English was signed 
at Westminster, and the settlements in America came 
under the control of the English. The Dutch and Swedes 
became reconciled to the new government, and were 
rapidly absorbed by the increasing English population. 

Europe at this time was in a state of religious excite- 



17 

ment. Warring sects persecuted one another, and op- 
pressed those who were peacefully inclined. Many of 
these became exiles, and looked to America as a place of 
refuge where they might worship without fear. Among 
the thousands of these emigrants were some of the wisest 
and best men of Europe, many of whom settled on the 
banks of the Delaware. Here they strove to form an 
ideal government, where men should be equal, and w^here 
the spirit of liberty and the sense of justice should prevail. 
Summing up the history of these early settlements, we 
find that the Dutch were the first settlers in the land now 
known as Pennsylvania, and that they held it for fifteen 
years. They were followed by the Swedes, who held it 
for seventeen years. Then the Dutch recovered their 
former power and held sway for nine years. Then came 
a struggle for ascendency between the English and the 
Dutch. Finally, by a treaty of peace the land passed to 
the English, who held power until the arrival of William 
Penn, the great champion of political and religious liberty, 
and the founder of the State of Pennsvlvania. 




Seal of the Province of Pennsylvania. 

STO. OF I'HIL.— 2 



WILLIAM PENN. 

WILLIAM PENN, the proprietor of Pennsylvania 
and the founder of the city of Philadelphia, was 
born near the Tower of London, October 14, 1644. He 
was the eldest child of Admiral William Penn, and was 
named in honor of his father. Admiral Penn was an 
ambitious and successful man. He was a sea captain at 
twenty- one, a vice admiral at twenty-five, and an admiral 
at twenty-nine years of age. He was a great favorite at 
court, and, for services rendered to England, Cromwell 
gave him an estate in Ireland. Later in life he was 
knighted by Charles II. 

Penn's mother, Margaret Jasper, was a native of Rotter- 
dam, Holland. She was one of the most lovely, gentle, 
and devout women that could be found in the realm. Dur- 
ing the absence of his father, William Penn's early life was 
spent under the tender and watchful care of his mother. 
His gentle spirit, his firm adherence to duty, and his high 
sense of right and justice, so clearly shown in later life, 
were largely the result of her influence. His character is 
an illustration of the old maxim that ' great men always 
have good mothers." 

. As a boy Penn was '* round in face, with soft blue eyes 
and curling hair," " a love not only in his mother's eyes, 
but in his father's heart." At the age of ten he was sent 
to a free grammar school at Chigwell. Upon the admi- 
ral's arrest and imprisonment for insulting a Spanish offi- 
cer, the mother sent for the lad, who, on his return home, 
fell into a low and feverish state of mind. While in this 



19 

state he was impressed by a strange vision of a sacred 
light, and a feeHng of joy came over him. This event was 




William Penn. 

never forgotten, and in after years he spoke of it as a" divine 
manifestation." Penn and his mother then went to Lon- 
don, where he entered a private school in Tower Street, 



20 

The admiral, after his release, moved with his family tt) 
Ireland, and Penn was placed under a private tutor, who 
took great interest in his education. So rapid was his 
progress that at the age of fifteen he was ready for Oxford. 
He entered that university in 1659, through the influence of 
the King of England and of the Duke of York. Here he 
acquired the reputation of being a diligent student. He 
read the classic literature of Greece and Italy in the 
original, acquired an excellent knowledge of history, and 
studied French, German, Dutch, and Italian. One of his 
chief pleasures was the study of theology, particularly 
the doctrines of the Puritans. Being of an adventurous 
spirit, a fine horseman, a skillful oarsman, and an athlete, 
he became a general favorite at college. 

It was while at Oxford that he heard Thomas Loe, a 
celebrated minister of the Friends, teaching the doctrines 
of George Fox. Loe spoke against the forms of the 
church, such as the wearing of gowns and the ritual cere- 
monies. At this time there was a difference of opinion in 
the university about the adoption of a new service. Penn 
sided with the nonconformists, or Puritans, as they were 
called, who objected to wearing gowns and attending reg- 
ular service. His absence was noted, and he, with others, 
was brought up before the authorities and fined. This 
action on the part of the university aroused all the young 
nonconformists to rebellion, and they paraded the streets, 
and even tore the gowns off the backs of the courtly 
youths. In all this Penn was a leader, and as such was 
finally expelled from the university. 

His father at first refused to believe that his son was 
expelled, much less that he had accepted the principles of 



21 

the Friends. He scorned the idea that his son had turned 
" Quaker." With clouded brow he silently awaited the 
return of the boy to his home. Learning from his 
son's own lips that the report was true, he was greatly 
grieved. The father was proud of his son, of his per- 
onal charms, his talents, and his business ability ; in him 
his worldly ambitions were centered. At first he pleaded 
with the boy, then treated him with great severity ; but 
all in vain. Although sorrowing deeply on account of 
his father's opposition, Penn remained firm. His father's 
table was loaded with luxuries, but he scarcely ate. In 
his father's house were gathered the wit and beauty of the 
land, but he shunned their company. He sang no ballads, 
made no courtly speeches ; he even gave up his dog and 
gun. To divert his attention from serious subjects, his 
father took him to the theater to see a satirical play on 
the Puritans, but this did not change the young man's 
convictions. At last his father sent him to Paris with some 
college friends, in hopes that amid the pleasures of that 
gay city he might lose the convictions and practices so 
objectionable to his parents and friends. He was pre- 
sented to the king, Louis XIV., and became a welcome 
guest at court. Subjected to influences so fascinating to a 
young man, Penn in a measure forgot his Quaker fancies. 

From France he went to Italy. On the way he met 
Algernon Sidney, the republican exile from England, 
whose ideas of government received the hearty approval 
of Penn. In Italy he studied the Italian language and 
literature, and the science of government. From here in 
1664 he was summoned home to England by his father. 

Admiral Penn was delighted to find his son an accom- 



22 

plished gentleman and a scholar of varied and general 
culture, and immediately took him to court, where he 
became a favorite. He is represented as fair of face and 
gentle of manner, yet possessing a firmness of character 
which impressed all who met him. Nature and art had 
combined to make him a perfect gentleman. 

William Penn was now entered as a law student at 
Lincoln's Inn. Soon after, war was declared against the 
Dutch, and for a time he served on his father's staff, carry- 
ing dispatches from the fleet to the king. In 1665 the 
plague broke out in London, bringing the young law stu- 
dent face to face with the great problems of life and death, 
thus reviving his religious convictions. His father, return- 
ing from war, sent Penn to Ireland to look after his estates. 
While in Ireland he met Lord Arran, under whom he en- 
listed to quell an insurrection. Penn in war was said to 
be " the coolest of the cool, and the bravest of the brave." 
He now petitioned his father for leave to take up the pro- 
fession of arms, and had his portrait painted in armor. 
The admiral promptly refused his request, advising him to 
live a " discreet and sober life." While at Cork, Ireland, 
Penn again heard Thomas Loe speak. The minister's first 
expression, *' There is a faith that overcomes the world, 
and there is a faith that is overcome by the world," caused 
Penn to repent of his indifferent life, and that very even- 
ing he resolved to become a Friend, even at the expense 
of fortune, fame, and associates. 

Hearing of this, the admiral sent for his son to come 
home. He found him fixed in purpose, but expressed a 
willingness to forgive him if he would take off his hat before 
the king, the duke, and himself. Penn asked three days 



23 

for consideration and prayer, at the end of which time 
he decided not to Hft his hat to any mortal, as it was a 
sign of placing man on an equality with God. Penn now 
felt himself called to the ministry. He laid aside his 
cloak and his sword, and assumed a plain garb. He 
prayed for those who were the cause of all his trials, used 
" thee" and " thou," and by precept and example taught 
" peace on earth, good will to men." 

His father was indignant, threatened him, and finally 
turned him away from home. Penn, however, was not 
without consolation, for his new friends made him wel- 
come, and his mother interceded in his behalf and secretly 
sent him money. In a few months he was permitted to 
return to his home, but his father would not speak to him 
nor sit at the table with him. He then exchanged the 
sword for the pen, writing several essays and a pamphlet 
entitled " Sandy Foundations Shaken." For this he was 
imprisoned, " without indictment, trial, or conviction," 
December i6, 1668. During the eight months of his 
imprisonment he wrote his principal work, " No Cross, no 
Crown." He was set free through the influence of the 
Duke of York. The firmness with which William Penn 
maintained his principles made his father feel there must 
be something in his son's doctrines worthy of consideration 
and respect, and his heart began to soften toward him. 

In 1670 Penn was again arrested for preaching the 
doctrine of the liberty of conscience, and also for con- 
spiracy. On his trial he pleaded the rights of English- 
men under the Great Charter, as did also a Captain 
William Mead, who had been arrested with him. The 
jury were kept two days without food, fire, or water, and 



24 

when they returned a verdict of" not guilty "they were fined 
forty marks, and sent to Newgate prison for not following 
the instruction of the judge to find Penn guilty. They 
then appealed to the superior court, which rexersed the 
action of the lower court — a decision which aided in estab- 
lishing the respective rights of judge and jury among 
English speaking people. Penn and Mead were fined for 
keeping on their hats in the presence of the court, and re- 
fusing to pay the penalty, were sent to prison. Some 
Friends, however, assumed the fine, and they were released. 

A few days later, as Admiral Penn lay d}-ing, he sent 
for his son. He asked his forgiveness, and charged him, 
saying, " Let nothing in this world tempt you to wrong 
your conscience ; " and again, " Son William, if }ou and 
your friends keep to your plain way of preaching and 
also keep to your plain way of living, you will make 
an end of priests to the end of the world." He also 
requested the presence of the king and the Duke of York, 
and at his deathbed they promised to befriend his son. 

In 167 I Penn was again arrested and put in prison for 
six months, during which time he wrote four treatises. 
On his release he immediately went to Holland and 
Germany, where he formed associations of Friends. In 
the spring of 1672 he married Gulielma Maria Springett, 
a noble woman, and most worth}' of the love and ad- 
miration of Penn. Several years later Penn was appointed 
a trustee of the estate of Edward Billinge, a Friend, who 
had a large interest in the West Jersey Land Company. 
In the administration of the estate William Penn encour- 
aged settlements on the eastern shore of the Delaware. 
Two years later he went to Holland and Germany, and 



25 

encouraged his new converts to emigrate to America. In 
1678 the first English vessel, the Shield, sailed up the 
Delaware and anchored at Burlington, New Jersey. This 
place was a part of the Billinge estate, and under the 
management of Penn. 

Penn was so pleased with the result of this first colony 
that he became anxious to make a " holy experiment," as 
he termed it, by purchasing and settling the west shore 
of the Delaware River, and thus to found a community in 
which men might live under the freedom of their own laws 
and enjoy civil, religious, and political rights. 

In 1680 Penn petitioned the king to grant him the terri- 
tory west of the Delaware River, in lieu of a debt due the 
estate of his father for services rendered and money loaned 
the king, in all amounting to sixteen thousand pounds. 
This claim was laid before Parliament, and a year was 
wasted in debate. The following year Penn again pressed 
his claims. At last the king decided to grant him 45,215 
square miles of wilderness, and on Thursday, February 24, 
1 68 1 , King Charles II. signed a charter constituting William 
Penn absolute proprietor of the territory petitioned for, in 
consideration of two beaver skins to be given annually in 
token of fealty to the King of England. This slight consid- 
eration reserved the royal privileges of taxation, commerce, 
and trade, and rendered obligatory the submitting of leg- 
islative acts to the king and his Parliament for approval. 

The name proposed by Penn for the new province was 
New Wales. This was objected to by the king. Penn 
then suggested Sylvania, meaning woodlands, to which 
the king prefixed Peiui, the Welsh word for head, in honor 
of the great admiral. Penn thought it savored of vanity, 



and offered twenty guineas to the king's secretary to have 
it changed ; but he was unsuccessful, and thus we have 
to-day the name of Pennsylvania, the only State in the 
Union which bears the name of its founder. 



00>^C 



PENN'S VOYAGE AND LANDING. 










PENN, in company with 
other Friends, set sail 
for America from Deal, Eng- 
land, August 3 i, 1682. He 
sailed in the Welcofiic, a new 
and stately bark of three 
hundred tons burden, Robert 
Greenaway master. 

Penn had taken leave of 
his family and countr}', 
and made arrangements as 
though he was never to re- 
turn. His first intention was to take his family with him, 
but in view of the danger and privations, and in consider- 
ation of his wife's health and the education of his children, 
he thought it prudent to leax'e them in England. His fare- 
well letter to his wife and children contains some beauti- 
ful expressions of his devout and manly nature. 

A \oyage to America at that time was regarded as 
extremely dangerous ; only the bravest dared attempt it. 
There were one hundred and two passengers on board the 
vessel, the majority of them Friends. Many of these were 



Penn Coat of Arms. 



27 

refined and delicate women, accustomed to homes of luxury. 
The voyage was a trying one. It. was their misfortune to 
ship a case of smallpox while at Deal, and thirty-one of the 
passengers died of this dread disease on the ocean. Penn 
aided the sick in every possible way, giving liberally of his 
medicines and provisions. Day and night his conversa- 
tion was a consolation to all on board. 

After a voyage of two months they arri\ed at New 
Castle on the Delaware, October 2^ , 1682, and the follow- 
ing day went ashore. Penn was met by Colonel Markham, 
his cousin, whom he had previously sent over, and also by the 
agents of the Duke of York. To these agents Penn pre- 
sented his charter and deeds. For this part of his province 
he was to pay annually five shillings and one rose at the feast 
of Saint Michael's, as tribute to the Duke of York. The 
commissioners, satisfied as to the legality of the deeds, gave 
him the key to the fort, accompanied by " turf with a twig 
upon it, and a porringer with river water and soil." These 
Penn accepted, signifying that he held possession of the 
soil, the woods, and the waters. He then locked himself 
in the fort, indicating that he meant to defend his rights 
against all claimants. He told the assembled inhabitants 
of his purpose to found a free state where -the people should 
be their own rulers. They listened in wonder and delight 
to these words, and when he concluded they pledged to 
him their obedience. He then sailed up the river to Up- 
land (now Chester), which was at that time the seat of gov- 
ernment in his province. Here he made a speech to the 
magistrates, requesting them to examine their town lots 
and see what arrangements could be made for placing new 
settlers; for here he had thought to build his great city. 



28 



The date of Penn's arrival at Philadelphia is uncertain, 
and it is equally uncertain as to how he came, whether in a 
" handsome barge" from Chester or in the ship IVelcouic. 
He passed the mouth of the Schuylkill River, no doubt 
curiously scanning the shores to see where the site of his 
new town should be. Soon his eye rested upon the bluff 
shore of Coaquanock, at the mouth of Dock Creek, near 
which a few boats were moored. Near the shore was 
the " Blue Anchor," a low wooden house then in the 
course of erection at Front and Dock streets. The Blue 
Anchor Tavern was the southernmost building of a line of 
ten houses called " Budd's Long Row," and the house 
became in time one of great interest ; it was used as an inn, 
an exchange, a post office, and a landing place at the same 
time. Penn landed at the door of this building, and was 
so well pleased with it as a landing place that he subse- 
quently dedicated it to public use forever, and its exact 

locationand intended 
use are noted in the 
original city char- 
ter. 

The settlers, young 
and old, in their rus- 
tic garbs, hastened 
from their humble 
log cabins and caves to welcome Penn, for all were anx- 
ious to see the man who was to be their governor and 
their friend. 

Penn was at this time thirty-eight years of age, tall of 
stature, of athletic frame, dignified in bearing, richly 
but plainly dressed, courteous of speech, and cheerful of 




29 

manner, a man of energy and courage, the admiration of 
all who saw him. 

Penn was astonished at the resources of his province. 
He immediately sent out runners to the Indian chiefs, 
couriers to Lord Baltimore, and agents to the governor of 
New York, to apprise them of his intended visits. After 
paying his respects to the governor of New York, he 
hastened back to Chester to meet the Assembly, which 
he had ordered to convene December 4, 1682. Thus 
came to the New World the great founder of our State and 
city, whose name and character are worthy of our admira- 
tion and reverence. 

The anniversary of the landing of William Penn on the 
shores of the Delaware is observed in the public schools 
of Philadelphia, and the day is known as '* Penn Day." 
The custom was introduced by Dr. Edward Brooks, super- 
intendent of public schools, in the year 1893. In a circu- 
lar to the principals he says : 

"On the 27th of October, 1682, the 'good ship IVe/- 
coine ' sailed up the harbor and landed on the shores of the 
Delaware. On the deck of this vessel stood a man who 
bore to a new world a new gospel of civil liberty. He 
came as a herald of the doctrine of peace, justice, and 
charity — a doctrine which it has taken the world centuries 
to learn, and which is just beginning to be the policy of the 
older nations. 

" New England, with patriotic purpose, commemorates 
the landing of the Mayfloiver, and the relation of that 
event to national liberty. Pennsylvania, and especially 
Philadelphia, should, it would seem, with the same 
patriotic purpose commemorate the landing of the Wei- 



30 

coDie, freighted with a purer and nobler doctrine of human- 
ity and ci\il Hberty, unstained with any spirit of intolerance 
and bigotry." 

As abo\e stated, Penn reached the shores of the Dela- 
ware October 27, 1682, and took possession of the province 
of Pennsylvania on the following day, October 28. If we 
take the date ot his actual landing, October 28, Old Style, 
and change it to "New St\'le, Penn Day would be ob- 
served on the seventh day of November. The eighth 
day, however, has been adopted throughout the city and 
State as the anniversary of the landing of William Penn 
on the west shore of the Delaware. 

— oo^«<oo — 

THE EARLY SETTLERS UNDh:R PENN. 

WHEN the thousand or more settlers who came in the 
\]'clcoiiu\ the JoJui and SaraJi, the I^ristol Factor, 
the Sitbuiissiou, and other \-essels, reached Philadelphia, 
the weather was cold, and there were no houses built to 
receive them. Only twenty houses were to be found in 
what is now known as Philadelphia County. Most of 
these were occupied by the Dutch and Swedes who had 
pre\-iously settled here. Besides these there were a few 
wigwams occupied by the Indians. 

These early colonists were subjected to many privations 
and dangers. Most of the people were entirely unarmed 
and unprepared to protect themselves from enemies. 
Their very weakness, howexer, proved their defense ; 
kindness, innocence, and justice disarmed their foes. No 



31 

real danger ever threatened the immigrants from the 
Indians ; the real danger lay in disease and in the storms 
and cold of winter. During all these early trials every 
murmur of discontent was hushed at the thought of what 
they had suffered in " woful Europe." Better a dugout 
than a dungeon ; better a cave in the wilderness than a 
loathsome prison ; better a sod house with freedom than 
a palace under suspicion of heresy. They felt that it was 
a "holy experiment," and their hearts beat high with the 
hope of freedom. 





Caves in the River Bank. 



On landing they made places for their families and 
effects in the banks fronting the river. They dug out the 
bank, thus forming caves, and made the roofs of layers of 
branches and moss. From here the men went out along 
the rivers and streams in search of pleasant places for their 
future homes. On these journeys they were welcomed 



32 

and assisted by the red men of the forest. When they 
found a location that suited them, they purchased the land 
of Penn, and built their homes, the settlers aiding one 
another in this work. The men and boys cut the timber 
and cultivated the land, while the women and girls pre- 
pared the food and made the garments. A model for 
these temporary houses was furnished by Wilham Penn. 
They were to be log buildings thirty feet long and eigh- 
teen feet wide, a partition dividing the space into two 
parts. The house was covered on the outside and lined 
on the inside with clapboards. The space between was 
filled with earth to keep out the cold and frost. The 
floor was made of clay, and the upper loft of split 
logs. They were indeed fortunate who arrived in Phil- 
adelphia in time to build these rude houses for the protec- 
tion of their families during the winter months. Those 
who came later were obliged to seek refuge in caves along 
the river bank until the following spring, and it is esti- 
mated that there were nearly a thousand cave dwellers in 
Philadelphia during the winter of 1682-83. 

It is related of an early settler that he could find no way 
to convey his family, with their household utensils, from the 
water's edge to their new home. The parents finally 
decided to carry the younger girls in a tub, while the other 
children, aged four and three years, walked in front, car- 
rying all their little hands could hold. Within fifty years 
this same family became so prosperous that they rode in 
coaches. One of the family was an ancestress of Johns 
Hopkips, founder of the university at Baltimore. 

These early colonists did not often suffer for food. The 
rivers teemed with fish and ovsters ; the woods abounded 



33 

with wild turkeys, many of which weighed forty pounds 
apiece. Anthony KUncken, famous as a hunter, tells of 
the fine ducks and geese found in the pond at Fourth and 
Market streets. The boys trapped game quite close to 
their own doors, and gathered nuts and berries in the 
woods. Peaches, plums, and grapes grew wild in great 
abundance. 

Richard Townsend, who came over in the Welcome 
says: "In company with Joshua Tittery I made a net, 
and caught great quantities of fish, which supplied our- 
selves and many others, so that, notwithstanding it was 
thought near three thousand persons came in the first 
year, we were so providently provided for that we could 
buy a deer for two shillings and a large turkey for about 
one shilling, and Indian corn for about two shillings and 
sixpence per bushel." While there was no starving 
among them, many of the poor had no money, arms, or 
ammunition, and were often badly off for food. Richard 
Townsend himself relates how at one time he was supplied 
with meat in a providential way. He says: "As I was 
in my meadow mowing grass, a young deer came and 
looked on me. I continued mowing, and the deer in the 
same attention to me. I then laid down my scythe and 
went toward him, upon which he ran off a small distance. 
I went to my work again, and the deer continued look- 
ing on me, so that several times I left my work to go 
toward him, but he still kept himself at a distance. At 
last, as I was going toward him. and he, looking on me, 
did not mind his steps, he ran forcibly against the trunk 
of a tree, and stunned himself so much that he fell, upon 
which I ran forward, and getting upon him, held him by the 

STO. OF PHU.. — ^ 



34 

legs. After a great struggle, in which I had almost tired 
him out and rendered him lifeless, I threw him on my 
shoulders, holding him fast by the legs, and with some 
difficulty, on account of the fresh struggling, carried him 
home, about a quarter of a mile, to my house, where, by 
the assistance of a neighbor who happened to be there, 
and who killed him for me, he proved to be \'ery service- 
able to my family." 

The Indians often supplied the settlers with furs and 
skins. They had learned to love the white men, who 
were kind and good to them. The settlers bought corn 
and many varieties of game of the Indians. It is said 
that one of the early settlers became in great need of 
bread, and in his extremity he sent two of his children to 
the neighboring Indians for food. The one child was 
offered to be kept as a hostage for the return of the food. 
The Indians took off the boy's trousers, tied the legs full 
of corn, and sent both the children back to their home 
with kindly greetings. The Indians also taught the settlers 
how to use as medicines, the plants, herbs, and roots which 
grew here. There were few physicians in the country, and 
the settlers were glad to know how to use the plants in 
case of sickness. Even Penn did not despise their simple 
remedies, and on one occasion recommended them to the 
governor of Virginia. 

The dress of the people of Philadelphia in the early 
days was simple and plain. Much of the clothing was 
homespun ; the men ordinarily wore leather breeches, 
woolen waistcoats, felt hats, and heavy shoes and boots, 
while the women wore linen and calico. 

The first PJiiladeljihia bride was Priscilla Allen, who 



35 

was married in 1682 to Thomas Smith. John Key was 
the first child born in Philadelphia of English parentage. 
In recognition of this fact Penn deeded him a city lot on 
Race Street, near Crown. He lived to a good old age at 
his home in Chester County. The first printer in the 
colony was William Bradford, who came to Philadelphia 
from England, October, 1685. He brought with him a 
letter of recommendation from George Pox, the celebrated 
Friends' minister, which read: "This is to let you know 
that a sober young man, whose name is William Bradford, 
comes to Pennsylvania to set up the trade of printing 
Friends' books. And let Friends know of it in Virginia, 
Carolina, Long Island, and Friends in Plymouth Patent 
and Boston. And what books you want he may sup- 
ply you with ; or Answers against Apostates or wicked 
Professors Books. He may furnish you with our An- 
swers ; for he intends to keep up a correspondence with 
Friends that are Stationers or Printers here in England." 
The first work printed by Bradford was an almanac writ- 
ten by Daniel Leeds, a student of agriculture. 

Although the story of the early settlers of Philadelphia 
and Pennsylvania is often pathetic, yet we find that, very 
few complaints were ever uttered. They were a moral and 
an intellectual people, whose fortitude had sustained them 
through bitter persecutions while in Europe. Many were 
men who had suffered in prison, and whose families had been 
torn from them, so that when set free they had not known 
where to find their wives and children. These were the 
men Penn invited to his asylum m the wilderness. These 
were the men who first settled Philadelphia, and it would 
have been strange indeed if they had not brought deter- 



36 

mination, energy, and fortitude with them. They were a 
people who worked and prayed and had faith in God. 
Their object was home making and nation building; their 
hope was the enjoyment of liberty of conscience ; and 
eventually their reward was the founding of a free and in- 
dependent nation — a legacy which they have left us to 
maintain and transmit unblemished to succeeding gen- 
erations. 



PENN AND THE INDIANS. 

WHEN Penn sent his cousin, William Markham, and 
the three commissioners to the new province, he 
instructed them to be kind toward, the Indians, to avoid 
offending them, to make them presents, and in his name 
to buy their land. He told the surveyors not to settle any 
land to which the Indians had a claim, until the Indians 
were satisfied and had been paid for their property. He 
also sent a message of peace to them in his own hand- 
writing, concluding with these words : 

•' I shall shortly come to you myself, at which time we 
will more largely and freely confer and discourse on 
these matters. In the meantime I have sent commission- 
ers to treat with you about land and a firm league of 
peace. 

" Let me desire you to be kind to them and to the 
people, and receive the presents and tokens which I have 
sent you as a testimony of my good will to you, and of 



37 

my resolution to live justly, peaceably, and friendly with 
you. I am your loving friend, 

" William Penn." 

Several months after his arrival, June 2^, 1683, Penn 
met the Indians in council to confirm and ratify publicly 
the treaties which Markham had made. The meeting was 
held under a wide-spreading elm tree at Shackamaxon 
(now Kensington). This was a spot well known "to the 
Indians, as it was the place of "sachem making," or making 
of chiefs by the tribes. 

Penn is pictured on. this occasion as wearing a blue 
sash made of silk network around his waist, and on his 
head a cavaher-shaped hat. At his right stood Colonel 
Markham, in a scarlet coat, and the Indian interpreter, 
Lacy Cock, in leather breeches. Near by were the Dutch, 
Swedes, and English, all in their native styles of dress. 
Penn held in his hand no crown, scepter, or sword, no 
emblem of authority other than a roll of parchment, con- 
taining the confirmation of the treaty about to be made. 
The Indians sat on the ground in a double circle, with the 
great Indian chief Tamenend squatting in the center, and 
the oldest and wisest of his chiefs on either hand. Their 
faces were painted, and their shell necklaces and feathers 
sparkled in the sun. Tamenend put a chaplet and a small 
horn on his head, the emblems of sacred and kingly power, 
and, as Penn drew near, informed him that the tribes were 
ready to hear him. 

Penn began : " We meet on the broad pathway of good 
faith and good will ; no advantage shall be taken on either 
side, but all shall be openness and love. I will not call 



38 

you children, for parents sometimes chide their children 
too severely ; nor brothers only, for brothers differ. The 
friendship between me and you I will not compare to a 
chain, for that the rains might rust, or a falling tree 
might break. We are the same as if one man's body 
was to be divided into two parts ; we are all one flesh and 
blood." 

Penn then paid them for the land, and the deeds were 
signed by nineteen Indian chiefs. He laid the roll of 
parchment on the ground, signifying that the ground was 
common to both people. He gave a copy of it to the 
great Indian chief, and desired him to keep it carefully for 
three generations, that their children might know what had 
passed between them. The Indians were delighted, and 
said: "We will live in love with Onas [as they called 
Penn] and his children as long as the sun and moon shall 
endure." 




Treaty Belt given by the Indians to Penn. 



l^enn then gave the Indian chiefs presents, and they in 
turn handed him a belt of wampum, as an official pledge 
of their fidelity. This belt was composed of eighteen 
strings of wampum, woven together. It was six inches 
wide, twenty-six inches long, and in the center was a 
representation of a man with a hat on, grasping the hand 



39 



of another man in friendship. The man with a hat on 

represented Penn, and this belt of wampum sealed the deed 

of purchase between 

the Indians and 

Penn, and formed 

that ** league of 

friendship" which, 

as Voltaire said, 

"was the only 

treaty between these 

people and the 

Christians that was 

not ratified by an 

oath and that was 

never broken." 

The great treaty 
tree was blown down in 1810. It was twenty-four feet 
in circumference, and is said to have been two 
hundred and thirty-three years old. A sprout from 
this tree was planted on the grounds of the Pennsyl- 
vania Hospital, Eighth and Spruce streets, but was cut 
down in 1 84 1. The celebrated Dr. Rush owned a chair 
made of the original tree, and a portion of the tree may be 
seen in Independence Hall. A monument erected in a 
pleasant park at the intersection of Beach Street and Co- 
lumbia Avenue, marks the spot where the treaty tree 
stood, and bears the following inscription : 




Treaty Tree Monument. 



Treaty Grocnd 


William 


Penn, 


Placed by the 


Pennsylvania, 


OF 


Born 


1644, 


Penn Society 


Founded, 


WiLUAM Penn, 


Died 


1718. 


A. D. 1827, 


1681, 


AND THE 






to mark the 


BY Deeds of 


Indian Nations, 






Scite of the 


Peace. 


1682 






Great Elm Tree 




Unbroken faith. 











40 

In 1773 the Penn family eny:aged Benjamin West to 
paint a picture of the treaty made June 23, 1683. He 




West's Picture of the Treaty. 

did so, and received for it four hundred and twenty 
pounds ; but the picture, of course, is not an accurate 
representation of the event. 

Penn frequently met the Indians in a friendly manner. 
He walked with them in the forest and slept in their 
tents ; he sat with them and ate of their roasted hominy 
and acorns ; and the story is told that at one time he ran a 
race with the young Indian chiefs and excelled them all, 
and that the Indians were delighted. In these ways he 
secured their friendship, esteem, and confidence. On one 
occasion he attended an Indian feast. " It took place 
near a beautiful spring of water, which was overhung by 



41 

the branches of lofty trees. Several deer were killed *and 
roasted whole, with the bones unbroken. Hot cakes were 
served up, also wheat and beans. After feasting, some of 
the Indians danced." Penn frequently entertained the 
Indians at his home at Pennsbury. " Hence kings and 
queens, with their followers, paid their visits to him. 
When they came on public or on state business he re- 
ceived them in his hall of audience, a large room built for 
the purpose, and wherein was placed an oaken armchair, 
in which he usually sat when he conferred with them on 
such occasions." 

On the 29th of April, 1701, the Indians met Penn at 
Pennsbury for the last time. They had heard that Penn 
was about to return to England, and came to renew the 
good understanding by a general treaty. The treaty was 
confirmed by both parties, and the Indians presented five 
parcels of skins to Penn, who in turn gave them various 
parcels of English merchandise. Then the Indians said, 
smiting their heads three times, that they did not make 
their covenants there, but, smiting their breasts three times, 
that they made them in their hearts. 

At Penn's death the Indians sent Mrs. Penn a message 
of sorrow for the loss of their " brother Onas," with some 
choice skins to form a cloak which might protect her 
" while passing through the thorny wilderness without 
her guide." After Penn's death they brought presents to 
the governor of Pennsylvania and his council to renew 
and maintain the former bonds of friendship made with 
" Onas," their friend and brother. Thus the great " league 
of friend.ship," resulted in a period of peace in Penn's 
province which lasted nearly eighty years. 



42 



PENN'S GOVERNMENT. 



THE government framed by Penn for his new province 
was the wisest and most Hberal of any estabHshed 
in the New World. By his charter Penn was the pro- 
prietor and governor of Pennsylvania, with almost abso- 
lute power ; but he ignored this prerogative, and gave the 
happiness and prosperity of the people into their own keep- 
ing. I will " put the power in the people," he said, and 
he thus laid the foundation of that government which 
Abraham Lincoln nearly two centuries later characterized 
as " a government of the people, by the people, and for 
the people." William Penn had been an intimate friend 
of the great liberalist Algernon Sidney, and no doubt 
many of his ideas of government were derived from that 
martyr to the principles of freedom. 

Prior to his leaving England, Penn, in a letter to the 
colonists, declared : " You shall be governed by laws of 
your own making, and live a free, and if you will, a sober 
and industrious people. I shall not usurp the rights of any 
or oppress his person. God has furnished me with a 
better resolution, and has given me His grace to keep it." 
He thus " aimed to frame a government which might be 
an example," and to make " men as free and happy as they 
could be." He further said: " For the matters of liberty 
and privilege I purpose that which is extraordinary, and 
to leave myself and successors no power of doing mischief, 
so that the will of one man may not hinder the good of 
the whole country." It was a " holy experiment," but 
Penn saw the light of freedom in the dim future, and with 



43 

courage and sagacity he drafted a constitution the founda- 
tion of which was reHgious Hberty, poHtical equahty, and 
almost perfect justice. 

In the preface of this " Frame of Government," or Con- 
stitution, was a declaration of principles embodying his 
ideas of the nature, origin, and object of governments. 
In it he said : " The glory of Almighty God and the good 
of mankind is the reason and end of government, and 
therefore government in itself is a venerable ordinance of 
God." He proposed to " establish such laws as shall best 
preserve true Christians and civil liberty." He thought 
government '* as capable of kindness, goodness and charity 
as a more private society. They weakly err who think 
there is no other use of government than correction, 
which is the coarsest part of it." 

The Frame, or Constitution, begins by declaring that 
the sovereign power resides in the governor and freemen 
of the province, and for the purpose of legislation two 
bodies should be elected by the people, a council and an 
assembly. In it he prescribes the method of their election, 
the functions of the gox-ernor and council, and the privileges 
of the Assembly. He held that " any government is free 
to the people under it, whatever be the frame, where the 
laws rule and the people are a party to these laws; and 
more than this is tyranny, oligarchy, and confusion." He 
intended his people to be one family, and his common- 
wealth, not an empire, but a Christian State. 

About one month after his arrixal in America Penn was 
ready to organize his new government. For this purpose 
he issued writs summoning the freeholders to elect repre- 
sentatives to a general assembly. He called this first Gen- 



44 

eral Assembly together at Upland (now Chester), Decem- 
ber 4, 1682. The persons serving as representatives were 
from the various local settlements. He laid before them 
the " Printed Laws," or rules of order he had drafted in 
England, which they accepted, as also his Frame of 
Government, which became the First Constitution of 
Pennsylvania. 

Within three days after the Assembly convened they 
adopted Penn's P>ame, adding twenty-one new laws, 
making a system of government called the " Great Law," 
or the " Great Code." This was a remarkable political 
document. It provided, as Penn desired, for a general 
assembly and a provincial council, both to be elected by 
the people. The governor and council were the execu- 
tive body, and from councils emanated all bills which by 
the sanction of the Assembly became law. It guaranteed 
liberty of conscience, declaring that none should be 
molested or prejudiced in matters of faith and form of 
worship, and that every one was free to follow his own 
religious inclinations. The Swedes and Dutch were 
privileged to become naturalized, and were invested with 
all the rights of Englishmen. In order to vote, the citizen 
was required to be of good character, a freeman, twenty- 
one years of age, and a believer in the Deity. Courts 
of justice were instituted, trial by jury was established, 
and all persons had the privilege of pleading for themselves 
and their friends. Prisons were to be made workhouses, 
in which criminals might be reformed and taught some 
useful trade. Capital punishment was to be abolished, ex- 
cept for murder and treason. The scriptural names of the 
days and months were to be used, and the first day of 



45 

the week was to be observed as the Sabbath. The gov- 
ernor and provincial council w^ere to erect and order all 
public schools, and all children of the age of twelve were 
to "be taught some useful trade or skill," to the end that 
none might be idle in the province. It was also provided 
that the laws should be printed and taught in all the 
schools of the province. These were some of the laws 
passed in the three days of legislation, and they clearly 
show that Penn as a lawgiver and a statesman was more 
than a century in advance of his time. 

William Penn held his first proxincial council in Phil- 
adelphia March lo, 1683, and two days later the General 
Assembly met and organized. At this meeting of the 
legislature the Great Law, adopted at Chester, was en- 
larged and revised, and many laws were passed having 
reference to city as well as provincial affairs. A seal was 
adopted for the three counties in Pennsylvania, namely, 
Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester. On the 23d of March 
it was " ordered that the seal of Philadelphia be the 
Anchor." On the 2d of April, 1683, the governor and 
council met, and in the evening of that day the charter of 
the province was read, signed, sealed, and delivered by 
Governor Penn to the people. 

The Great Law was again modified in the year 1696, 
and subsequently in 1701. Penn was desirous of having 
his laws meet the demands of the people, and in the year 
1700 said: "Friends, if in the constitution by charter 
there be anything that jars, alter it. If you want a law 
for this or that, prepare it. . . . Study peace and be at 
unity." Accordingly, Penn advised the drafting of a new 
constitution, and said : " You will find me ready to comply 



46 

with whatsoever will render us happy by a nearer union of 
our interests." The result of this advice was the adop- 
tion of the Charter of Pri\'ileg"es, or the Constitution of 
1 701, which was the last constitution Penn gave to his 
people. 

This charter granted liberty of conscience to all who 
'* confess and acknowledge Almighty God," and gave all 
professors of religion the right to hold office on their giv- 
ing a promise of allegiance to the government. It required 
an assembly to be chosen yearly by the people, who had 
the " powers and privileges of an assembly according to 
the rights of freeborn subjects of England." It required 
the freemen to choose a double number of persons for each 
position of sheriff or coroner or other court officers, the gov- 
ernor to choose one from among them. It declared that 
all laws should be issued ''By the Govenioi^, ivith the Con- 
sent and Approbation, of the Freemen in General Assembly 
met.'' It provided that all criminals should have the same 
privileges of witnesses and counsel as their prosecutors, 
and that all cases concerning property should be decided 
by courts of justices. It forbade any one obtaining a 
tavern license who was not recommended by justices, and 
thus suppressed disorderly public houses. It forbade the 
forfeiture of the estates of suicides or intestates. It pro- 
hibited any law contrary to the Charter of Privileges with- 
out the consent of the governor and the majority of the 
Assembly. It demanded the pledge of the proprietor to 
guard liberty of conscience, and to bind himself and heirs 
to uphold the liberties designated in the charter, declaring 
that any attempt to disregard them should be null and 
void of force. 



47 

The Charter of Privileges remained the constitution of 
Pennsylvania until 1776, and this document aided in 
shaping all subsequent constitutions of Pennsylvania, of the 
other States, and of the Federal Union. A noted historian 
says of it : '* Thus did Penn perfect his government. An 
executive dependent for its support on the people ; all 
subordinate elective officers elected by the people; the 
judiciary dependent for its existence on the people; all 
legislation originating exclusively with the people ; no 
forts, no armed force, no militia ; no established church ; 
no difference of rank ; and a harbor open for the reception 
of all mankind of every nation, of children of every lan- 
guage and every creed; — could it be that the invisible 
power of reason would be able to order and restrain, to 
punish crime and to protect property?" 



^^«^<: 



PENN AND PHILADELPHIA. 

BEFORE Penn's departure from England he had sent 
out his cousin, William Markham, as deputy governor 
of the new province, and soon after three commissioners 
to assist him. Markham had been instructed by Penn to 
lay out ten thousand acres as a town site where it was 
most " navigable, high, dry, and healthy." After examin- 
ing the lands from Pennsbury to Upland, he settled upon 
the location of Wicaco (now Philadelphia). The site lay 
between two navigable rivers, the Delaware and the 
Schuylkill, and was well adapted to commerce by reason 
of its long, deep water frontage. The land was high and 



48 

rolling, with excellent springs of water; the air was pure 
and wholesome ; vast quantities of clay and immense 
quarries of stone were accessible ; and the location 
possessed many natural advantages for a city. The 
Swedes had settled upon a portion of the land, and Mark- 
ham and the commissioners bought out their rights, and 
directed the surveyor to lay out the town site. 

On his arrival Penn was delighted with the progress 
Markham had made in founding the new State. He 
was especially pleased with the friendship he had gained 
with the Indians, and with the splendid site selected for the 
new town. In a letter home, he said : " Of all the places I 
have seen in the world, I remember not one better seated 
so that it appears to me to be appointed for a town." 

It is not known when or why Penn named the city 
Philadelphia. It is believed, however, that he named it 
before his arrival in America. Edward Jones, writing of 
the settlement, August 26, 1682, says: " Y^ name of 
town lots is called Wicaco ; here is a crowd of people 
striving for y^ country land, for y^ town lots is not divided 
and therefore we are forced to take up y^ country lots." 
The first we hear of the name of Philadelphia applied to 
the new city is in the records of the Friends' Meeting, 
8th, 9th month, 1682. These records read as follows: 
'* At this time Governor William Penn and a multitude of 
Friends arrived here and erected a city called Philadel- 
phia." The meaning of the word " Philadelphia," " broth- 
erly love," may have caused Penn to give that name to the 
new city ; or his acquaintance with Scripture may have 
led him to name it after one of the seven Christian 
churches mentioned in the Bible ; or he may have called 



49 



It after a city in Syria by that name. But it is more 
probable that he named it in honor of the Philadelphoi, 
a religious sect in Europe whose mystical views were in 
harmony with his own. 

I 

'I 



0BBmBBQBB0DDDDDDDDDD 

DDaDDDnDDDLF^^DnDDDnnnGD 




of 



a;¥T 



PHILADELPHIA 

J.D. 1682. 



BQDnanDL 



iBmcnDDDnn 




DDnDDnnDDn[L.J:DDDDnnDDDD 

'□DnDnnnDnnnDDDDnDDD"" 
DnnnDannDnnDDDona 



DDDDDnDDDnnnnDDDnnuD 

DDDDDDDDDDanDDaDDDDDDD 



Penn planned the whole scheme of his city, its name, 
streets, and open spaces, before it was laid out. His 
original idea was to have the houses face the river, with a 
broad street on the high river banks. Every house was 
to be in the center of a plot of ground, so as to admit of 
gardens and lawns, thus causing Philadelphia to '* be a 
green country town which will never be burnt and always 
be wholesome." 

The city as planned was a little over two miles long 
from the Delaware to the Schuylkill, and fronted more 
than a mile on each of these rivers. Penn ordered High 
Street (now Market) to be laid out from river to river, 

STO. OF PHIL.— 4 



50 

and Broad Street to cross it at right angles about mid- 
way between the two rivers. Thus the city was divided 
into four parts, and in each of these parts was reserxed 
a plot of ground for a park or square. Both Broad Street 
and Market Street were to be a hundred feet wide, and 
at their intersection ten acres were to be reserved for 
public purposes. On this ground, for many years known 
as 'Center Square or the Penn Park, now stands the City 
Hall. From the Delaware westward the streets were 
named numerically as Second, Third, Fourth, etc. ; the 
streets parallel with High Street received botanical names, 
as Chestnut, Walnut, Spruce, Pine, Mulberry, Sassafras, 
Vine, etc. In time High Street became known as Mar- 
ket Street, on account of the markets located there. Sas- 
safras Street was popularly called Race Street, as it led 
directly to the race ground; and in time the name was 
changed to Race Street. Mulberry Street became Arch 
Street, on account of the arched bridge at Front and Mul- 
berry streets. The houses were numbered from Market 
Street north and south, the first house in every square 
beginning with the even hundred. Penn also reserved six 
acres for a schoolhouse, a meeting house, and a burying 
ground, and a ten-acre lot to inclose horses that they 
might not stray away while their owners were attending 
religious service. 

Penn announced his intention to sell land at forty shil- 
lings per hundred acres, and in shares of five thousand 
acres for one hundred pounds. He advertised for trades- 
men in foreign countries, men of quality and industry. 
Men of trades and professions were needed and encour- 
aged by him. He determined to ha\e no idleness or jeal- 



SI 

ousy in his colony, and proposed to protect all trades as 
well as all forms of religion. 

The colonists poured in, hundreds of persons following 
Penn to the new city. During the winter of 1682-83, 
twenty-three vessels sailed up the Delaware, bringing at 
least two thousand people. Before the 24th of July, 
1683, fifty vessels arrived and eighty houses were built, 
and by the end of the year twnce as many houses had 
been erected. On the 9th of February, 1684, Penn wrote 
to the Marquis of Halifax : " Our capital town is advanced 
to about one hundred and fifty very tolerable houses for 
wooden ones ; they are chiefly on both the navigable riv- 
ers that bound the ends or sides of the town." 

Philadelphia soon became the central point for immigra- 
tion to America. Among the immigrants were men of 
energy, virtue, and learning, w^ho had left their homes in 
Germany, t^ngland, or Wales, to seek a home in the new 
country where they m'ght enjoy the blessings of civil and 
religious liberty. 

The German immigrants were a rough, rugged, and 
hearty people, and many of them were uncouth in speech 
and garb. The immigrants from England were Friends, 
wearing their " peculiar dress," often bearing on their 
faces the marks of persecution and long imprisonment. 
From Wales came the aristocracy of boasted ancient 
pedigrees, who gave their names to the places they sought. 
The merchants and mechanics began to follow their sepa- 
rate callings, w^hile the aristocracy built their homes in the 
city limits and purchased large land estates in the interior. 
When Penn's friends in Philadelphia objected to the in- 
coming of so many different religious sects, he made 



52 



answer : " I dare not deny others what I crave for myself 
— I mean Hberty for the exercise of my religion." 

After remaining in his colony for nearly two years, 
Penn, moved by duty and inclination, left it on August 
12, 1684, to return to England. As he sailed down the 
Delaware, thinking of his prosperous colony, he uttered 
this farewell benediction : "And thou, Philadelphia, the 
virgin settlement of this province, named before thou 
wert born, what love, what care, what service, and what 
travail has there been to bring thee forth and preserve 

thee from such 
as would abuse 
and defile thee! 
My soul prays 
to God for thee, 
that thou mayest 
stand in the day 
of trial, that thy 
children may be 
blessed of the 
Lord, and thy 
people saved by 
His power." 

When Penn 
returned to Phil- 
adelphia in 1699, he felt almost a stranger in his own 
city. Large stores and houses had been erected of brick 
or stone, many of them three stories in height, extending 
in order as he had planned the streets. There were at 
this time about seven hundred houses in Philadelphia 
proper, and over thirty-five hundred inhabitants. 




Penn House. 



53 

When Penn first came to Philadelphia he Hved at the 
house of Thomas Fairman, in Kensington, which was one of 
the best and most convenient houses in the province. He 
then built a house for his own use at Second and Market 
streets. This he named the Letitia House, in honor of 
his daughter Letitia, and it is said to have been the first 
brick house erected in the city. This house, called the 
Penn House, now stands in Fairmount Park, at the Girard 




The Slate Roof House. 



Avenue entrance. Penn lived in it until called to England, 
when it became the first Statehouse in the province. On 
his return Penn lived with his family in the Slate Roof 
House, corner of Second Street and Norris Alley, the pres- 
ent site of the Commercial Exchange. When first built 
this was the largest house in Philadelphia, and Penn was 



54 

probably its first occupant. It was here that John Penn 
was born, the only child of the proprietor born in Amer- 
ica. But Penn was proudest of his country home at 
Pennsbury, called Pennsbury Manor. This was a palatial 
residence, surrounded by extensive grounds laid out with 
care. No country home in America at that time could 
compare with Pennsbury Manor. Travelers came many 
miles out of their way to see this " palace," and the Indi- 
ans termed it " one big wigwam." It was an ideal rural 
home, and Penn when far away in England mourned the 
loss of it, and in reply to a letter said : ** I am glad to 
hear of the good condition of poor Pennsbury, beloved of 
us all, and there in the will of God we wish ourselves." 
This building was eventually destroyed, and no trace of 
it now remains. 

Penn left New Castle for England November 2, 1701, 
in order to defend his rights as proprietor of Pennsylvania. 
Reflecting on his labors in i 7 10, he said with pride regard- 
ing his people: " When it pleased God to open a way for 
me to settle that colony, I had reason to expect a solid 
comfort from the services done to many hundreds of 
people ; and it is no small satisfaction to me that I 
have not been disappointed in seeing them prosper and 
growing up to a flourishing country, blessed with liberty, 
ease, and plenty beyond what many of themselves could 
expect, and wanting nothing to make themselves happy 
but what, with the right temper of mind and prudent 
conduct, they might give themselves." Until the hist his 
interest in the welfare of his colony was unabated. Though 
afterwards governed by unworthy proprietors, the moral, 
political, and religious principles of the government he 



55 

founded were so excellent that his province prospered, 
and its capital, Philadelphia, increased in population, until, 
at the time of the Revolution, it was the most important 
city in the country. To-day it is the chief city in Penn- 
sylvania, and the third largest city in tlie United States. 

William Penn was destined never to return to America. 
His affairs in England were in such a serious condition 
that they required his personal attention. His agent, 
Ford, involved him deeply in debt, and after the death 
of Ford, Penn was cast into prison. He was then sixty- 
five years of age, and his treatment at Old Bailey was a 
great shock to him. In 1712 he had a stroke of paralysis, 
and then another and another, until he succumbed, dying 
July 29, I 718. He was buried in the village churchyard 
at Jordans, Buckinghamshire, England, by the side of his 
first wife and his first-born son. The news of the death 
of Penn was solemnly announced to the provincial council 
November 3, i 718, by Governor William Keith. He paid 
a fitting tribute to the founder of the province and 
ordered a military procession. Efforts were made in 
1 88 1 to have Penn's body brought to Philadelphia 
for final burial upon the occasion of the celebration of 
the bicentennial of the founding of Pennsylvania; but 
the request was refused, and the remains of the great 
Friend were left where they had been resting for over 
one hundred and sixty years. An imposing bronze 
statue, thirty-six feet in height, has been erected to his 
memory by order of councils, and was placed upon City 
Hall, Broad and Market streets, November 28, 1894. 
This statue represents Penn as looking toward Pennsbury 
Manor, his Pennsylvania home, 



56 



GERMANTOWN AND ITS FOUNDER. 

GERMANTOWN, the "town of palaces," was one of 
the earliest cities in Pennsylvania. The story of 
its settlement by the Germans, under the leadership of 
Francis Daniel Pastorius, is an interesting one. Pas- 
torius was born in Sommerhausen, Franconia, Germany, 
September 26, 1651, his father being the judge of Winds- 
heim. He was highly educated, and is said to hav^e been 
the master of seven languages. While making the tour 
of Europe he visited the city of Frankfort, where he heard 
Spener, the leader of the Pietists, preach, and became 
acquainted with one of his converts, a young and beauti- 
ful maiden named Eleanor von Merlau. The doctrine of 
Spener and the influence of Eleanor brought him into 
sympathy with the mystic religion. This sect of Pietists, 
influenced by Penn, proposed to emigrate to America and 
settle in his province. Pastorius favored this movement, 
and the society employed him to purchase land of William 
Penn and establish a settlement in Pennsylvania. 

Pastorius arrived in Philadelphia August 20, 1683. 
For a time he lived, like many of the early settlers, in a 
cave on the bank of the Delaware River, probably near 
the Chestnut Street wharf. Above his door was an oiled 
paper, with a Latin motto inscribed upon it, which read : 
" Parva domus, sed amica bonis, procul este profani " (" A 
little home, but friendly to the good ; keep away, ye un- 
holy"). 

On the I 2th of October, 1683, a warrant was issued to 
Pastorius, as agent on behalf of the German and Dutch 



57 

purchasers, for six thousand acres of land ; this tract, 
when surveyed, was found to contain fifty-seven hundred 
acres. The purchasers, meeting together in the cave of 
Pastorius, cast lots for a choice of location. When the 
division of land had been made they immediately began 
to build huts in which they might protect themselves and 
their families during the winter. Thus began the first 
German settlement in Pennsylvania, at Germantown. 

The beginning of Germantown is best described by 
Pastorius himself: "We call the new town Germantown, 
or Germanapolis, in a very fine and fertile district, with 
plenty of springs of fresh water, being well supplied 
with oak, walnut, and chestnut trees, and having be- 
sides excellent and abundant pasturage for cattle. At the 
commencement there were but twelve'families, of forty-one 
individuals, consisting mostly of German mechanics and 
weavers. The principal street of this our town I made 
sixty feet in width, and the cross street forty feet. The 
space or lot for each house or garden I made three acres 
in size; for my own dwelling house, however, six acres." 

For twenty years, from 1682 to 1702, the German 
immigration was not large, for in that time only about 
two hundred families arrived who settled in Germantown. 
Many of these were men of wealth and intelligence. They 
were plain and simple in dress, speech, and manner, vir- 
tuous and pure of life, industrious and economical. They 
were good farmers, took excellent care of their cattle, built 
good fences and barns, erecting their barns and stables 
sometimes before they built their dwelling houses. 

The Germans at Germantown were noted for their piety. 
They were divided into two religious sects, the Mennonites 



58 

and Tunkers. The Mennonite sect, or " German Friends," 
had been founded in Germany as early as 1540 by Menno 
Simons. Soon after the arrival of the Mennonites came 
the Tunkers, now known as the *' Dunkards," or " River 
Brethren," who, having been driven from Holland, took 
refuge in Pennsylvania. They were peculiar in their dress, 
wore long", unshorn beards and coarse clothes, covered 
their heads with the hoods of their cloaks, and walked in 
a very sedate manner. The Mennonites built their first 
meeting house in Germantown in i 708, and the Tunkers 
built theirs the following year. 

To become a citizen of Germantown in those early days, 
every immigrant was required to have a passport of recom- 
mendation. These passports were written on parchment, 
elegantly engrossed with letters of gold, stating that the 
bearers were of the high moral character necessary to per- 
mit persons to become citizens. In time, when the tide 
of immigration increased, each immigrant was obhged to 
pay one pound sterling for citizenship. Germantown, it 
is thus seen, was peopled with men of virtue, piety, and 
learning. 

The government of Germantown began the 6th of 
October, 1691. Two years previous it had been made a 
borough by a patent received from Penn. Pastorius was 
appointed the first bailiff. For two years he represented 
the new town in the Assembly of Pennsylvania. Pastorius 
also devised a seal for the little town, and, as most of the 
inhabitants were weavers and had come from a country 
of vineyards, he made it consist of a clover leaf, on which 
were a vine, a stalk of flax, and a weaver's spool, with the 
words, " V'inum, Linum, et Textrinum." 



59 

In order that every citizen should understand and 
appreciate the government under which he lived, it was 
ordered that all the people should assemble on the 19th 
of January each year, and hear the laws read to them. 
The chartered government terminated February 25, i 706, 
after fifteen years of local or home rule. Germantown 
then came under the government of Philadelphia. 

The people of Germantown were kind and hospitable, 
as the following story shows: In the year 1694 there 
came an old blind man and his wife to Germantown. His 
miserable condition awakened the tender sympathies of 
th^ people there. They gave him the citizenship free of 
charge, and set apart for him a lot twelve rods long and 
one rod broad, whereon to build a little house and make 
a garden, which should be his as long as he and his wife 
should live. Several persons were appointed to take up a 
freewill offering and to have the little house built. The 
name of this man was Pieter Cornelisz Plockhoy. He 
came from Holland many years before for the purpose of 
founding a German colony in America, but w^as driven 
from place to place until he found a home and comfort at 
the hands of the good people of Germantown. 

These Germans were an industrious people. They 
brought with them the art of w^eaving, and as early as 
August 6, 1685, their fame as fine linenmakers had 
reached England. They were distinguished for the 
manufacture of textile fabrics, both in linen and woolen 
goods. They sold their manufactured articles in Phila- 
delphia, on Market Street near Second. Gabriel Thomas, 
in his history of Philadelphia, says : " All sorts of very 
good paper are made in the German-town, as also very 



6o 

fine German linen, such as no person of quality need be 
ashamed to wear ; and, in several places, they make very 
good druggets, crapes, camblets, and serges, besides 
other woolen cloathes, the manufacture of all which daily 
improves; and in most parts of the countrey there are 
many curious and spacious buildings, which several of 
the gentry ha\'e erected for their countrey houses." 

Arents Khncken, who, it is said, came from Holland 
with WiUiam Penn in 1682, built the first two-story house 
erected in Germantown. On this occasion Penn was present 
and partook of the raising dinner. The first grist mill in 
Philadelphia County was built in Germantown. One of 
the ancestors of the illustrious Rittenhouse family erected 
the first paper mill in Pennsylvania, at Germantown, in 1 690. 
In the year 1701 the people of Germantown petitioned the 
governor and council to lay out a road between that town 
and Philadelphia. On January i, 1760, the Germantown 
Academy was organized. This institution was the out- 
growth of the teaching of Pastorius, who was the first 
schoolmaster at Germantown. It was to be free to 
members of every religious denomination, and was to be 
called the " Germantown Union School-house." In 1784 
it was incorporated by charter as the Public School of 
Germantown. In 1761 the first stagecoach ran from the 
King of Prussia Inn, Germantown, to Second and Arch 
streets, Philadelphia. Reyneir Jansen printed the first 
book ever published in Germantown, in 1699, entitled 
" God's Protecting Providence." Jansen was an untrained 
printer and had very little type. At this date his books 
are very rare, and a single copy would command a high 
price. 



6i 



BIBLJA, 




The first newspaper in Germantown was conducted by 
Christopher Saur, or Sower, a Tunker elder, in 1 739. This 
newspaper had a wide circulation among all the Germans 
from New York to Georgia. The first book printed by 
Sower was the first American book in German type. It 
was called " Weyrauchs Hiigel," and contained seven 
hundred and ninety-two 
pages of hymns. It was 
dedicated " To all soli- 
tary turtledoves cooing 
in the wilderness, as a 
spiritual harp — playing 
in the many tunes of 
divine visitation." Sower 
issued an almanac every 
year, which was very 
popular. He made his 
type, paper, and ink, and 
bound his own books. 
He also sold medicines, 
practiced as a physician, 
and cast the first jamb 
stoves in the colonies. 

Christopher Sower will 
be remembered as the pioneer printer and preacher of 
Germantown, and especially for publishing the first Ger- 
man Bible in this country. His son, at an early date, suc- 
ceeded to his father's profession, becoming eminent as a 
minister and prominent as a publisher. While the Brit- 
ish occupied Philadelphia and Germantown, Christopher 
Sower hid the unbound sheets of his Bibles in the gallery 



% fiartui i?«(tct0/ 



aud) 



9Jeb|l mm ?(nf)ang 

T^ii fcritren lm^ iMtrtrn 35ti*^ Cfrd anii k# 

iivlvti ^^M!iti; fcr •JtJCcabAtr. 

©ckiirft be.) C'briftopI) ^mt 1743. 

Title-page of the Bible Published 
by Sower. 



62 

of the church. In rummaging through the building the 
enemy found the precious store of prints and seized them. 
Some were torn into gun wadding, while others were used 
as bedding for horses. As soon after the battle of Ger- 
mantown as safety would permit, Sower visited the site of 
the British camp in search of his missing folios. Many 
of the sheets were recovered and afterwards bound, form- 
ing a portion of the third edition. Several copies of this 
Bible are in the possession of Philadelphians, and it is said 
that some of the pages show the footprints of the British 
troopers' horses. 

True to the tenets of his sect, Christopher Sower was 
an advocate of peace, which caused him to be attainted of 
treason by the colonial government. His property, valued 
at about seventy-five thousand dollars, was confiscated ; 
and his '* house, paper mill, sawmill and milldam were 
sold to Jacob Morgan, Jr. for 5,150;^." He was subjected 
to disgrace by the Continental soldiers. The story is told 
that " with his hair and beard cut off, smeared over with 
red and black paint, bareheaded and barefoot, and almost 
naked, and maltreated by the soldiers, he was led before 
the provost. He was branded as a traitor, but without 
trial. He was finally released absolutely penniless, having 
nothing but the clothes he wore." 

A brass memorial tablet, commemorative of the services 
of Christopher Sower, has been placed in the Church of 
the Brethren by Charles G. Sower, a descendant. This 
tablet is set in the wall of the building, just back of the 
place where, more than a hundred years ago, Christopher 
Sower preached peace to his congregation. The tablet 
bears the following inscription : 



63 

IN MEMORY OF 

CHRISTOPHER SOWER 

BISHOP OF 
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN 

Born, I 721 Died 1784 

Baptized 1737 Deacon 1747 

Minister 1748 Bishop 1753 

PUBLISHED THE HOLY BIBLE 
SECOND EDITION 1 763 THIRD EDITION 1776 

ONLY SON OF 

CHRISTOPHER SOWER 

Born 1693 in Laasphe Germany 

(^ame to America 1724 

COMMENCED PUBLISHING IN GERMANTOWN 1 738 
PUBLISHED FIRST AM QUARTO EDITION OF THE HOLY BIBLE 1 743 

Died in Germantown 1758 

The Germans at Germantown were the first people in 
America to declare against the practice of slavery. In 
the year 1688 they sent a memorial to the Friends, pro- 
testing against it. The P>iends adopted the idea and 
became famous as the leaders of the antislavery movement. 
This memorial was quaint and curious in expression, yet 
remarkably intelligent and just withal. It was a bold and 
direct appeal to the hearts of the people. " Have not," it 
read, " these negroes as much right to fight for their free- 
dom as you have to keep them slaves?" The original 
document was discovered in 1844 by the Philadelphia an- 
tiquarian Nathan Kite, and published in a magazine called 
" The Friend." It was signed by four Germans, of whom 
Pastorius was one. 



64 

During his residence here Pastorius wrote several 
important treatises. His work, " A Geographical and 
Statistical Description of the Province of Pennsylvania," 
though local, is \'ery interesting, particularly the part 
rehiting to the growth of Philadelphia and to the man- 
ners and customs of the native Indians. One of his 
best works left in manuscript, called " The Bee," was a 
beautifully written work of three hundred pages. It con- 
sisted of selections and many original wise sayings ; and 
it was written in the seven languages of which Pastorius 
was the master. 

The founder of Germantown died September 27, 17 19. 
Where he lies buried is not known, but it is gratifying 
to remember that our loved poet W'hittier has immortalized 
his name in a beautiful poem called *' The Pennsylvania 
Pilgrim." In it are pictured his simplicity of life, his en- 
deavors for free education, liis efforts to abolish slavery 
and establish the rights of man, his encouragement of 
immigration, and his interest in posterity. The following- 
are the last two stanzas of this beautiful poem : 

" And lo ! the fulness of the time has come. 
And over all the exile's Western home. 
From sea to sea the flowers of freedom bldom ! 

" And joy bells ring, and silver trumpets blow; 
But not for thee, Pastorius ! Even so 
The world forgets, but the wise angels know." 



65 



EARLY EDUCATION IN PHILADELPHIA. 

PHILADELPHIA is distinguished for early and 
am])le provisions in the education of her youth. 
One of the objects of WilHam Penn was the estabUsh- 
ment of a system of general education in his province. 
His Frame of Government, prepared before he left Eng- 
land, provides " That the Governor and Provincial Coun- 
cil shall erect and order all public schools, . . . that 
youth may be successively trained up in virtue and useful 
knowledge and arts." 

The people of Philadelphia cordially indorsed Penn's 
views regarding the establishment of a public school sys- 
tem. When the second Assembly met on the loth of 
March, 1683, among the numerous laws passed was the 
following : 

" And to the end that poor as well as rich may be 
instructed in good and commendable learning, which is to 
be preferred before wealth. Be it enacted, etc.. That all 
persons in this Province and Territories thereof, having 
children, and all the guardians and trustees of orphans, 
shall cause such to be instructed in reading and writing, 
so that they may be able to read the Scriptures and to 
write by the time they attain to twelve years of age ; and 
that then they be taught some useful trade or skill, that 
the poor may work to live, and the rich if they become 
poor may not want : of which every County Court shall 
take care. And in case such parents, guardians, or over- 
seers shall be found deficient in this respect, every such 
parent, guardian, or overseer shall pay for every such child 

STO. OF PHIL.— 5 



66 



five pounds, except there should appear an incapacity in 
body or understanding to hinder it." 

The provision for pubHc education in this statute was 
far in advance of the times. It provided, first, for univer- 

sal education, in that 

the "poor as well 
as rich may be in- 
structed in good and 
commendable learn- 
ing." Itprovidedfor 
industrial education, 
inasmuch as boys at 
twelve years of age 
were to '' be taught 
some useful trade or 
skill." It provided 
for compulsory edu- 
cation, for in case 
" parents, guardians, 
or overseers" shall 
neglect the educa- 
tion of their chil- 
dren, they ''shall pay 
for every such child five pounds, except there should ap- 
pear an incapacity in body or understanding to hinder it." 
The first school in Philadelphia of which we have any 
knowledge was opened the year following the founding of 
the city. At a meeting of the council held in Philadelphia 
the 26th of the loth month, 1683, the following action w^as 
taken regarding the establishment of a school : 

" The Gov and Prov'll Council having taken into their 




An Early Schoolhouse. 



6; 

Serious Consideration the great Necessity there is of a 
School Master for y*" instruction & Sober Education of 
youth in the towne of Philadelphia, Sent for Enock flower, 
an Inhabitant of the said Towne, who for twenty Year past 
hath been exercised in that care and Imployment in 
England." 

Enoch Flower is said to have come from Corsham, 
Wiltshire, England. He accepted the invitation of the 
provincial council, and agreed to open a school upon the 
following terms: "to Learne to read English 4s by 
y^ Quarter, to Learne to read and write 6s by y^ Quarter, 
to learne to read, Write and Cast accot 8s by y^ Quarter ; 
for Boarding a Scholler, that is to say, dyet, Washing, 
Lodging & Scooling, Tenn pounds for one whole year." 

The house in which this school was held was a low 
wooden building built of pine and cedar planks, and 
was divided into two apartments by a wooden frame. In 
this humble schoolhouse began the work of education in 
Philadelphia. Enoch Flower, the first schoolmaster of 
Philadelphia, died in 1684. 

On the 17th of the i ith month, 1683, at a meeting of the 
council it was proposed " That Care be Taken about the 
Learning and Instruction of Youth, to Witt ; a Scool of 
Arts and Sciences." This was to be a grammar school 
similar to the English grammar schools, in which the classi- 
cal languages should be taught; but Penn in 1684 was 
called to England, and the project was neglected. In 
1689 he wrote to Thomas Lloyd, president of the council, 
and ordered him to set up a " Public Grammar School " in 
Philadelphia, which he did, and placed it under the care 
of the celebrated George Keith. 



68 

The first grammar school in Pennsylvania was thus estab- 
lished at Philadelphia in 1689. It was chartered by Gov- 
ernor Markham in 1697; rechartered by Penn in 1701, 
1708, and I 71 1 ; the last time in the name of " The Over- 
seers of the Public School founded in Philadelphia, at 
the request, cost, and charges of the People of God called 
Quakers." The earlier charters made the school denom- 
inational, but the charter of 1 708 took the controlling 
power from the Friends' Monthly Meeting, and placed the 
management in ** fifteen discreet and religious" Friends as 
a Board of Overseers, having perpetual succession. In 
171 1 this institution received its last charter from Penn. 
Although maintained by the Friends, the school was open 
to all, and for more than sixty years continued to be the 
only public place for gratuitous instruction in the prov- 
ince. The " Friends' Public School " is now known as 
the " William Penn Charter School," and is situated on 
Twelfth Street between Market and Chestnut streets. 

George Keith, the first principal of the Friends' Public 
School, was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland. He was 
a Friends' speaker, and was noted both for his learning 
and his violent temper. He received an annual salary of 
fifty pounds, a residence and schoolhouse free of charge, 
and the profits of the school. Keith was unsuccessful as a 
teacher, and at the close of the year his assistant, Thomas 
Makin, became principal, and held the position for many 
years. 

When the Assembly met August i, 1693, Makin was 
notified "that he must not keep school without a 
license," and in order to continue his work he must 
*' procure a certificate of his ability, learning and diHgence 



69 

from the inhabitants of note in this town by the sixteenth 
instant, in order to the obtaining a Hcense, which he 
promised to do." This was, without doubt, the first 
teacher's Hcense in the State. The Assembly of Pennsyl- 
vania sometimes met in this schoolhouse, and employed 
Makin as their clerk at four shillings per day, and for the 
time they occupied the schoolhouse they allowed him 
twenty shillings. Makin taught school many years, living 
to a good old age, and died, like so many other school- 
masters, very poor. The following is the brief and pathetic 
story of his death : '' On Monday evening last Mr. Thomas 
Meakins fell off a wharf into the Delaware, and before he 
could be taken out again, was drowned. He was an 
ancient man, and formerly lived very well in this city, 
teaching a considerable school ; but of late years was 
reduced to extreme poverty." 

In 1696, Thomas Holme, in a description of Philadelphia 
schools and teachers, wrote : 

" Here are schools of divers sorts 
To which our youth daily resorts, 
Good women who do very well 
Bring little ones to read and spell, 
Which fits them for their writing; and then 
Here's men to bring them to their pen, 
And to instruct and make them quick 
In all sorts of Arithmetick." 

The Friends were the pioneers in the movement for free 
education, and their example was followed later by the 
German settlers. A school was established at German- 
town by Dutch and German Friends in the year 1701. 
Francis Daniel Pastorius taught school in Philadelphia as 



70 

early as 1696, for it Is recorded that he made an engage- 
ment with Friends at that date " to keep school in the city 
and to do their writing." In 1698 he taught the Friends' 
School in Philadelphia, and also an evening school in Ger- 
mantown for such as could not attend the day school in 
the city. Upon his death he left some valuable works in 
manuscript on the subject of education. 

One of the most famous of the colonial teachers was 
Anthony Benezet, a native of France, who arrived in this 
country in 1731, at the age of eighteen, and opened a 
school at Germantown in 1739. Three years later he took 
charge of the English branches in the Friends' Public 
School, Philadelphia. While thus engaged he opened a 
night school, free to all Indian and negro children, and 
devoted his time and efforts to their enlightenment. Liv- 
ing among slaveholders, he had the boldness to assert that 
'* the notion entertained by some, that the blacks are infe- 
rior in their capacities, is a vulgar prejudice, founded on 
the pride or ignorance of their lordly masters, who have 
kept their slaves at such a distance as to be unable to 
form a right judgment of them." Five years later he estab- 
lished a school for girls, which, owing to its excellence, 
was patronized by the best citizens of Philadelphia. 

Every child should be taught to revere the name of 
Anthony Benezet as one of the most eminent reformers in 
school discipline. He abolished rods, rulers, and dunce- 
caps, declaring that they made a school morally and in- 
tellectually unhealthy. Benezet devoted the best years 
of his life to the interest of the Friends' Public School, and 
for its benefit he left an estate which was to be used " to 
hire and employ a religious minded person or persons to 



71 

teach a number of negro, mulatto, or Indian children to 
read, write, arithmetic, plain accounts, needlework, etc. ; 
and it is my particular desire, founded on the experience 
that I have had in that service, that in the choice of such 
tutor, special care may be had to prefer an industrious, 
careful person of true piety, who may become suitably 
qualified and would undertake the service for a principle 
of charity, to one more highly learned not equally dis- 
posed." 

Benezet was a man of humble spirit, and it is said that 
he desired, if a monument were ever erected to his mem- 
ory, to have these words inscribed thereon : 

AxNTHONY BENEZET 

WAS 

A POOR CREATURE, 

AND, 

THROUGH DIVINE FAVOR, 

WAS 

ENABLED TO KNOW IT. 

The year before his death Benezet wrote a work on 
general education, in which it is seen that his methods of 
teaching and his ideas of education were greatly in ad- 
vance of his time. 

• Christopher Dock, known as the ** pious schoolmaster," 
taught school in the old Mennonite log church of German- 
town in the year 1 740. He was a kind and good man, 
and was never known to lose his temper. When put to 
test by abuse and insolence, he would say, *' Friend, may 
the Lord have mercy upon thee." Dock was a Mennonite 
who came from Germany to Pennsylvania about 1 7 14. 



72 

Shortly after his arrival he opened a school among the 
Mennonites at Skippack, which he taught for very little 
compensation. He tried farming, but feeling that he was 
divinely called to be a teacher, and that his duty to God 
and man was neglected in any other labor, he returned to 
his beloved profession. Time and time again Dock was 



^^s^wifi|)w tm m %iim ^nkw fin Wk'S 

>S JT .U'ca-w/f '^amkn^ \\T(mn,'})ci^ ^ciraU}> ^h Wafn. mama 




e&tyfbe ttiio iiuf ()cr(^cn, Wi^^u fan 

L^bur^ei- berW ^;o|0u jjicr fcnajjf/? liit'i^imV 

G/;^ X«« Stt? ;/>7« 



From Dock's Primer. 

requested to give a written description of his method of 
keeping school, but each time refused with modesty. At 
last he consented, and in the year 1770 his work, the 
" Schul-Ordnung," was printed and published by Chris- 
topher Sower in Germantown. This is the earliest treatise 



73 

on school management published in Pennsylvania or in 
the United States, and " is the only picture we have of a 
colonial school." Besides a great deal of detailed infor- 
mation, Dock gives " a Hundred Necessary Rules of 
Conduct for Children." Among these are the following 
regarding the behavior of boys and girls while at school : 

" Dear child, when you come into the school, incline 
reverently, sit down quietly in your place, and think of the 
presence of God. 

" Be at all times obedient to your teacher, and do not 
let him remind you too many times of the same thing. 

" Listen to all that is said to you, sit very straight, and 
look at your teacher. 

" When you recite your lesson, turn up your book with- 
out noise ; read loudly, carefully, and slowly, so that every 
word and syllable may be understood. 

** If you are not questioned, be still ; and do not help 
others when they say their lessons, but let them speak 
and answer for themselves. 

" Abstain from all coarse, indecent habits or gestures at 
school, such as to stretch with the hands or the whole body 
from laziness ; to eat fruit or other things in school ; to lay 
your hand or arm upon your neighbor's shoulders or under 
your head, or to lean your head forward upon the table ; to 
put your feet on the bench, or let them dangle or scrape ; 
or to cross your legs over one another, or stretch them 
apart, or to spread them too wide in sitting or standing ; 
to scratch your head ; to play or pick with the fingers ; to 
twist and turn the head forward, backward, and side- 
ways ; to sit and sleep ; to creep under the table or 
bench; to turn your back to your teacher; to change 



74 

your clothes in school ; and to show yourself restless in 
school. Keep your books, inside and outside, very clean 
and neat, do not write or paint in them, do not tear them, 
and lose none of them. 

" When you write, do not soil your hands and face with 
ink; do not scatter it over the table or bench, or over your 
clothes, or those of others. 

"When school is out, make no great noise; in going 
downstairs do not jump over two or three steps at 
a time, by which you may be hurt, and go quietly 
home." 

Christopher Dock, as we have stated, was noted for his 
piety and faithfulness to duty. His death is said to have 
occurred in this wise: One evening in the year 1771 he 
did not return from school. A search was made, and he 
was found in the schoolhouse upon his knees, dead. He 
had remained after school hours to pray, and died while in 
prayer — a fitting end to such a pious life. 

In 1743 Benjamin Franklin presented a scheme for the 
establishment of an academy, but the project was laid aside 
on account of the excitement incident to the war between 
France and Great Britain. This subject was soon revived, 
and on November 13, 1749, a school was organized under 
the name of the " Academy and Charitable School of the 
Province of Pennsylvania." The Academy began with 
three schools, one of Latin, one of English, and one of 
Mathematics. A master, with an usher, was employed in 
each school. In accordance with the original design, a char- 
ity school was established under the same general manage- 
ment for the instuction of poor children gratuitously, and 
they were taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, and the 



7S 

first principles of virtue and piety. A charter was granted 
to the Academy in 1753, and on May 14, 1755, it became 
a college. Dr. William Smith of Philadelphia, a very 
learned man, was the first president of the college, and 
planned for it an excellent course of study, the best then 
known in the colonies. In the year 1791 this institution 
was merged into the University of Pennsylvania, one of 
the largest and most celebrated institutions in the country. 

Besides these schools there were many others connected 
with the various churches, and, as good teachers were 
scarce, the preachers of these congregations were in nearly 
every case the teachers of their several schools. 

While the most charitable provisions were made for the 
education of children, the growth of a free school system 
was slow. In 18 18, by an act of the legislature, Phil- 
adelphia was constituted the "First School District" of 
Pennsylvania, and provision was made for the education 
of the children of the city and county at public expense. 
The schools established under this act were not intended 
to be free to children of all classes of citizens. None but 
the children of indigent parents were admitted into the 
schools at public expense, boys between the age of six 
and fourteen, and girls between the age of five and thirteen. 
These charity schools were always unpopular, and were 
known as "pauper schools," and it was not»until the yeai' 
1834 that the present free school system of the State was 
established. 

To Philadelphia belongs the honor of being the first city 
in Pennsyh-ania and in the United States to establish 
schools for the education of teachers. One of the objects 
of the academy founded in 1 749 was the preparation of 



76 

teachers for elementary schools. Dr. Frankhn, in ad- 
dressing the Council in its behalf, urged the need of school- 
masters, and suggested that this school would furnish a 
supply of those who could " teach children reading, writ- 
ing, arithmetic, and the grammar of their mother tongue." 
In the year 1818 a Model School for the preparation of 
teachers was established in Philadelphia by an act of the 
State legislature. This school was organized on the so- 
caUed Lancasterian plan, and was conducted for several 
years by the celebrated English educator, Joseph Lan- 
caster, as principal. So successful was this school that in 
1 82 1 it was attended by five hundred and sixty-four 
pupils, and teachers were prepared not only for the 
schools of the city, but for those in other parts of the 
State. This school was established fully twenty years be- 
fore the first normal school was opened at Lexington, 
Massachusetts, and its work and influence are perpetuated 
by our present Normal School, one of the most thoroughly 
organized schools of the kind in the United States. 



3>*?C 



OLD SWEDES' CHURCH. 

ONE of the earliest structures reared in Philadelphia, 
which time has scarcely marred, is the ivy-covered 
old Swedes' Church, or " Gloria Dei," situated on Swan- 
son Street, near Front and Christian streets. At the rear 
of the church grounds is a brick building, on each side of 
which are iron gates ; over the one in letters of gilt are the 
words " Gloria Dei," and over the other " Erected 1700." 



17 

Service has been continuously held here for nearly two 
hundred years. Originally this congregation was Swedish 
Lutheran, and it remained so until 1831, when it became 
a part of the Protestant Episcopal Church, under the name 
of the Swedish Episcopal Church. But as the Lutheran 




Old Swedes' Church. 



Church in Sweden is Episcopal in form and spirit, Gloria 
Dei has really always been an Episcopal church. How 
so fine a structure came to be erected at so early a date, 
in the capital of an almost unbroken wilderness, is an in- 
teresting story. 

The first Swedish colonists, who reached the shores of 
the Delaware in the year 1636, nearly fifty years before the 
landing of Penn, brought with them a Swedish minister, the 



-8 

Rev. Reorus Torkillus. This colony settled at Christina, 
built a church, and Mr. Torkillus became their pastor. In 
r642 the new governor, John Printz, arrived, and with him 
the Rev. John Campanius. This colony settled at Tinicum 
Island, a few miles below Philadelphia, erected a fort, and 
built a church of wood. This church was consecrated by 
the Rev. John Campanius, September 4, 1646, and for 
many years served as a place of worship for all the Swedes 
in the colony. But the distance to the Tinicum church 
was so great that it was inconvenient for the Swedes liv- 
ing east of the Schuylkill River to attend worship there. 
They therefore petitioned the court ot New Castle in 
1675 to build a church at " \Mcaco," the Indian name for 
the land on the Delaware River which Penn afterwards 
laid out for his city, this being a more central and con- 
\-enient place. Accordingh', the court directed that a 
church, or place of meeting, should be built and paid for 
b}' a general tax ; but no further action was taken at that 
time. 

Meanwhile the Swedes resolved to occupy the block- 
hou.se at Wicaco, a building which had been erected in 1669 
as a defense against the Indians, for church purposes. On 
Trinity Sunday, 1677, the Rev. Jacob Fabritius of New 
York consecrated this log fort to the service of God, and 
preached l;ere his first sermon as pastor of the Swedes' 
Church, Wicaco. He continued to preach here for fourteen 
years, nine vears of which time he was totally blind. 
About T692 Mr. Fabritius died, and Wicaco church was 
left without a pastor. For a while Andrew Benktsen, 
an old and trembling layman, read sermons to the con- 
gregation. They had written twice to Sweden for pulpit 



79 

supplies, but the letters miscarried ; they also wrote to the 
Lutheran consistory at Amsterdam, Holland, requesting 
them to send over a clergyman for "their souls' sake," 
but received no reply. At last their spiritual needs be- 
came known to Charles XI. of Sweden, who sent over in 
1697 the Rev. Andreas Rudman, master of philosophy, 
the Rev. Eric Biork, and the Rev. Jonas Auren, giving 
them books, a free passage, three thousand dollars, and 
his blessing. They arrived in Philadelphia, " a clever little 
town," in the same year, and were " received with great 
kindness" and ** tears of joy." On the 30th of June 
they visited the W'icaco congregation, which was the 
nearest to Philadelphia. 

Mr Rudman found the church at Wicaco " decayed 
and scarcely habitable," and he immediately set about 
preparing to build a new one. On October 20, 1697, 
he wrote home to Sweden: "In order to build our 
church, we are about to raise the sum of four hundred 
pounds sterling; but that will not be difficult, they are so 
very glad to have us among them ; they look upon us as 
if we were angels from heaven. Of this they assured 
me with many tears , and we may truly say, that there is 
no place in the world where a clergyman may be so happy 
and so well beloved, as in this country." 

However happy they might be, they could not agree 
for a long time whether the new^ church should be erected 
where the minister's house and gardens were, four miles 
below the city (now Point Breeze), or on the site of the old 
blockhouse church ground at Wicaco, then half a mile 
below the city. While Mr. Rudman much preferred the 
church near his parsonage, he was not " tenacious " as to 



8o 

its location. On the 17th of May, 1698, the congregation 
agreed to settle the dispute by lot. Two pieces of paper 
were prepared; upon one was written " Wicaco," and on 
the other " Passyunk." These were folded, shaken in a 
hat, and thrown on the ground; when one was taken up 
and opened the name of Wicaco appeared. Dissension 
ceased, and all joined in a cheerful hymn of praise. The 
land on which the church was to be built was given by 
Catharine Swanson. Arrangements were made to bring 
material for the new church at Wicaco from the old one 
at Tinicum. A foundation of stone was laid cellar deep, 
and upon this walls of brick were erected. The interior 
of the church, when completed, was to be sixty feet long, 
thirty feet wide, and twenty feet high at the eaves. 

The work of building began May 28, 1698, and went on 
so successfully that on July 2, 1700, Swedes' Church at 
Wicaco was dedicated by the Rev. ICric Biork. A great 
concourse of people came to attend the ceremonies of the 
dedication, marveling at the magnificent structure. Mr. 
Biork said : " Thus through God's blessing we have com- 
pleted the great work, and built two fine churches, su- 
perior to any built in this country." It was at this service 
that the church was named " Gloria Dei," meaning the 
"Glory of God." 

Swedes' Church had cost about twenty thousand Swed- 
ish dollars, of which fifteen thousand dollars were paid 
at the time of dedication. But Gloria Dei was not yet 
complete. The churches of the mother country were 
highly decorated, and it was natural that the Swedes 
should desire to make their house of worship beautiful. 
An antique baptismal font of marble was .set up, and, in 



the course of time generations of worshiping saints came 
here to join the kingdom of Christ. In the west gallery 
was placed a curious carving of two cherubs with wings 
spread above an open book representing the Bible. On 
one of its pages is written in the Swedish language a pass- 
age from Isaiah: "The people who walked in darkness 
have seen a great light, ..." while on the opposite page 
is that passage of the New Testament describing the angels 
at the Saviour's birth as singing the anthem, " Glory to God 
in the highest." An organ was purchased, and in 1806 
a bell was cast, partly from an older one dated 1643, 
bearing this inscription : 

'* 1 to the church the livin^^ call, 
And to the grave I summon all." 

The Swedes, as we have learned, lived far apart, and 
consequently came a great distance to church. It must 
have been a curious sight to see them each Sunday on 
their way up and down the river in boats to attend divine 
worship. The service began with the morning hymn, *' O 
God, vi lofve tig" (*' We praise thee, O God "). The first 
sermon w^as preached '* between the first and second ring- 
ing of the bells," and during the summer, at the second 
sermon time, the first sermon was repeated, and the 
people were examined on what had been before said, the 
teachers going through the aisles catechizing the congre- 
gation. On the short winter Sabbaths a chapter of the 
Old Testament and one of the New were read and ex- 
plained. After the service the young people returned to 
their homes, two in a boat, while the older people lingered, 
talking of their religion, or discussing the last letters from 

STO. OF PHIL. —6 



82 

Sweden, while some, no doubt, thought longingly of their 
native home, biding the time when they should meet in 
heaven those they loved, and from whom they were now 
separated by the wide ocean. 

Long delays, which occurred between the appointment 
and the arrival of a minister from Sweden, necessarily hin- 
dered the progress of the Swedish Lutheran Church in 
America. Many of the members, especially the younger 
ones, joined Christ Church, toward which the Swedes al- 
ways felt kindly disposed. The ministers of these different 
congregations frequently exchanged pulpits. The Rev. Mr. 
Sandel, at one time pastor of Swedes' Church, records : 
** On solemn occasions, as at the laying of corner stones of 
churches, the English have always invited us and con- 
ducted themselves as friends to our church." This shows 
that Christian harmony and fellowship existed between 
the congregations of Gloria Dei and Caspipina, as Christ 
Church was called. 

The last of the Swedish clergy was the Rev. Dr. Nicholas 
Collin of Upsala, Sweden. He arrived in this country May 
12, 1771, and in 1786 was appointed rector of Gloria Dei, 
where he remained for forty-five years. So great was the 
faith in luck attending the marriage ceremonies performed 
by him that during his pastorate he married 3,375 couples. 
In the circuit of his parochial duties he rode an old gray 
pony called "Tidy." Dr. Collin was loved by all the chil- 
dren, and always had his pockets stored with candy, to their 
great delight. He became very proficient in the English 
language, and was a member of the historical and philo- 
sophical societies. He was also a member of the society 
for the commemoration of the landing of Penn. Dr. 



83 

Collin died at Wicaco October 7, 1831, in the eighty- 
seventh year of his age, known and respected by every 
man, woman, and child in Philadelphia. He was the last 
Swedish missionary at Gloria Dei, and at his death all 
connection of the American Swedish Church with that of 
Sweden ceased. 

In the quiet churchyard, and in the chancel of the 
church, are the memorial tablets of many who worshiped 
in the church long before the Revolution. The oldest 
tombstone in the churchyard is that of Peter Sandel, who 
died in 1708. On a mural tablet within the church we 
read this inscription in memory of Dr. Collin : *' Here was 
laid the last of a long line of missionaries sent by the 
mother church of Sweden to give the Bread of Life to 
her children on this distant shore." Another tablet 
"marks the memory and describes the virtues" of Dr. 
Jehu Curtis Clay, for many years a faithful rector of the 
church and the church's historian. Here also lie the 
remains of Joseph Blewer, a patriot of the Revolution, 
without whose deeds the history of those " times that tried 
men's souls " would be incomplete. In this quiet retreat 
repose the remains of Alexander Wilson, the ornitholo- 
gist, who worshiped at Gloria Dei, and who requested to 
be laid to rest there, as it was '' a silent, shady place 
where the birds would be apt to come and sing over his 
grave." 

Although Gloria Dei stands to-day where it stood 
nearly two hundred years ago, yet the environments have 
so marred the site that it is no longer the rural and 
picturesque spot alluded to by Longfellow in his beautiful 
poem, '' Evangeline " : 



84 

Then, as she mounted the stairs to the corridors, cooled by the east- 
wind, 

Distant and soft on her ear fell the chimes from the belfry of Christ 
Church, 

While, intermingled with these, across the meadows were wafted 

Sounds of psalms, that were sung by the Swedes in their church at 
Wicaco." 

»o>»<oc — 



OLD CHRIST CHURCH. 

AMONG the most sacred objects of veneration in 
^ Philadelphia, and perhaps in the United States, is old 
Christ Chtirch, on Second Street, near Market. Closely 
associated with this church are the names of good and 
great men, whose acts during a century of religious and 
political changes have shaped the destiny of the nation as 
well as of the city. 

In the charter granted to William Penn a clause was 
inserted to the effect that whenever twenty or more per- 
sons should petition for a Church of England parish it 
might be established, and application made to the Bishop 
of London for a clergyman. Several years after the 
founding of the colony the parishioners of the Church of 
England living in Philadelphia were sufficient in number 
to consider the subject of organizing and building a 
church. In 1695 they forwarded a petition requesting the 
Bishop of London to send them an ordained minister. 
The Friends became greatly alarmed, and even resorted to 
severe measures to prevent them from establishing a 
church, but without avail. Gabriel Thomas wrote that 



S-; 



the Church of England " built a very fine Church in the 
city of Philadelphia in the year 1695." Two years later it 
was finished at a cost 
of more than three 
thousand dollars. 

It is described as be- 
ing a " goodly struc- 
ture for those days, 
of brick, with galler- 
ies large enough to 
accommodate more 
than five hundred 
persons." 

Prior to this date 
the Protestant Epis- 
copalians worshiped 
under the leadership 
of a schoolmaster 
named Arrowsmith, 
who was assisted at 
times by the Bishop of Maryland. The Rev. Thomas 
Clayton, who was instrumental in founding Christ Church, 
was the first ordained missionary, and through his influence 
many Quakers became Episcopalians. In 1700 the Rev. 
Evan Evans, a Welshman, was sent over as rector of Christ 
Church by Bishop Compton of London. An annuity of 
fifty pounds was granted him by King William 111. 
" Parson Evans," as he was called, was a very active and 
zealous churchman. Besides the regular services on 
Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, and on holy days, 
special services were held on market days and during 




Christ Chureh. 



86 

" Quaker week." While rector of this church Mr. Evans 
baptized more than five hundred adults and children of 
Friends' families, and in seven years the number of his 
members increased to over eight hundred. He revisited 
England in 1707, and through his influence Queen Anne, 
in I 708, presented Christ Church with a silver communion 
service, pulpit cloths and cushions, prayer books and 
catechisms. 

In 1702 large numbers were added to Christ Church 
through the influence of the celebrated George Keith. 
Keith, who had formerly been a stanch Friend, sepa- 
rated from the society, and, taking orders in the Church 
of England, was sent over to Philadelphia as a mis- 
sionary by the English Church. He induced many of 
his former followers, the Friends, to unite with the Church 
of England, and was instrumental in organizing five or 
six Episcopal churches in and near Philadelphia. The 
Rev. Evan Evans remained rector of Christ Church until 
1 7 18, when he removed to Maryland. Subsequently, on 
a visit to Philadelphia, and while preaching in the pulpit of 
Christ Church on the afternoon of October 8, 1 721, he 
was stricken with apoplexy and died two days later. 

Christ Church congregation was a progressive one. By 
the time the first improvements were completed the 
increase of members was so great that a larger building 
was needed. In the year 1720 the vestry passed a resolu- 
tion to enlarge the church again, and to build a tower 
and steeple, and purchase a set of chiming bells ; several 
years passed before these improvements were completed. 
On the 27th of April, i ']2'] , the corner stone of the present 
church was laid with imposing ceremonies by the Hon. 



87 

Patrick Gordon, lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. 
Within a year an organ was purchased of Ludowick C. 
Sprogel for two hundred pounds. Soon after Mr. Sprogel 
presented the church with a large number of books, many 
of which were in parchment. A beautiful chandelier of 
twenty-four branches, brought from London in i 744, was 
purchased at a cost of two hundred and eighty dollars, 
and hung in the center of the church. This chandelier is 
still preserved, and hangs in its original place. 

In 1753-54 the tower with the ''Philadelphia stee- 
ple," as it was called, was completed at a cost of ^3,162 
gs. I id. Like the main building, it was designed by Dr. 
Kearsley, assisted by Dr. Franklin, and was built by Rob- 
ert Smith. It is one hundred and ninety-six feet nine 
inches from the base to the crown. 

Joseph Sansom, Esq., said of the steeple as an architec- 
tural ornament : " It is the handsomest structure of the 
kind that I ever saw in any part of the world, uniting in 
the peculiar features of that species of architecture the 
most elegant variety of forms with the most chaste sim- 
plicity of combination." 

In this steeple hangs the famous chime of bells, bought 
in England at a cost of ^^560 ys. Sd. The man who made 
these bells and hung them in the tower did so on condi- 
tion that they should be muffled and rung at his funeral 
services. Captain Budden, who brought them over free 
of charge in the ship Myrtilla, made a similar request. 
For his generosity the bells were ordered to be rung to 
welcome him whenever his ship appeared in the Delaware. 
It is said that the eight bells weighed nine thousand pounds, 
the largest of them weighing two thousand and forty 



pounds. Every one wanted to hear the chimes, and it 
was ordered that they should be rung on market days, 

when the country people were in 
town. The people living in Ger- 
mantown and neighboring vil- 
lages would often walk over 
the meadows and through the 
woods until they could hear 
the ringing and chiming of the 
bells of Christ Church. 




Saint Peter's Church. 



When the Declaration of 
Independence was read, 
Christ Church bells rang 
out a gladsome peal in 
answer to the Statehouse 
bell, now known as the 
Liberty Bell. 

For many years Christ 
Church was the principal 
place of worship in Phila- 
delphia. In the year 1 763 a charter was granted by 
Governor John Penn uniting Christ Church w^ith Saint 
Peter's, the second Episcopal church established in 
Philadelphia. The rector of these congregations was 
the Rev. Jacob Duche, who signed himself " Caspipina," 
from the initials of " Christ and Saint Peter's in Phila- 
delphia in North America." His assistants were William 
White and Thomas Coombe, both Philadelphians. It 
was Mr. Duche who opened the first Continental Con- 
gress with a most impressive prayer, and who for a time 
served as chaplain t(^ the American Congress. At first 



Mr. Duche was an ardent patriot, but he afterwards became 
discouraged, and on October 8, 1777, he wrote a letter to 
General Washington urging him to negotiate with the 
English for America, at the head of his army. This caused 
Washington to speak in a very uncomplimentary manner 
of traitors in general and of Mr. Duche in particular. 
Soon afterwards Mr. Duche returned to England with his 
Tory friend, the Rev. Thomas Coombe. 

The Rev. William White, the only patriot remaining of 
the three Philadelphia Episcopal ministers, was then 
appointed rector of Christ Church. He was a Philadel- 
phian by birth, was baptized in infancy in Christ Church, 
and his name is held as sacred as the institution itself. 
He was a true patriot as well as a distinguished church- 
man. The story is told that when he went to take the 
oath of allegiance to the United States, one of his acquaint- 
ances made a sign that he would lose his head, but he 
passed on without comment. After taking the oath he 
returned to the gentleman, and said: "I perceived by 
your gesture that you thought I was exposing my neck to 
great danger by the step which I have taken, but I have 
taken it with full deliberation. I know my danger, and 
that it is the greater on account of my being a clergyman 
of the Church of England. But I trust in Providence. 
The cause is a just one, and, I am persuaded will be 
protected." 

It was Bishop White who first advised the union of the 
church into an Episcopacy, by reason of which he is often 
spoken of as the " Father of the American Church." It 
was in Christ Church in 1785 that the first General Con- 
vention met and took action toward securing an American 



90 

bishop. In i 786 a special meeting of the convention was 
held, and the Rev. William White was elected Bishop of 
Pennsylvania. He was consecrated to the office of bishop 
in England, February 4, 1787, and thus became the first 
bishop of English consecration in the United States. He 
was ordained in Christ Church May 28 of the same year. 
He died July i 7, 1 836, at the age of eighty-nine years, hav- 
ing spent sixty-five years in the ministry. His remains 
were placed in the family vault at Christ Church. In 
1882 they were transferred to a tomb beneath the chancel 
of the church. 

The attitude of Christ Church congregation toward the 
mother church in England had changed with the times. 
The church had always favored a strong government, and 
the king was the acknowledged head of the church. 
When the sons of Wilham Penn united with the Church of 
England, the governing power passed with them from the 
Quakers to the Episcopal Church, and over the governor's 
pew were placed the royal arms. A profile bust in relief 
of George II. was placed in the great arched window on 
the east side of the chancel wall, and on the steeple was 
placed the king's crown. On July 4, 1776, the vestry 
met and decided to omit the petitions in the liturgy 
wherein the King of Great Britain is prayed for, as in- 
consistent with the Declaration " made by the honorable 
Continental Congress." Historians claim that after the 
Revolution the figure of the king was removed by 
order of the vestry, and thrown into the street, from 
whence it was taken by Zaccheus Collins and given to the 
Philadelphia Library. In 1872 the Philadelphia Library 
restored the effigy to the vestry, who placed it, in 1896, on 



91 

the exterior of the eastern end of the church, above the 
chancel window, while the crown, tradition says, was 
struck by lightning and destroyed. In 1787, the bishop's 
miter was substituted for the crown ; this had on it thir- 
teen stars, representing the thirteen original States, and 
bore the inscription, "The Right Rev. William White, 
D.D., consecrated Bishop of the Episcopal Church of 
Pennsylvania, February 4, 1787." After peace had been 
declared, the coat of arms over the governor's pew was 
removed to the vestry room, where, with other relics, it 
may be seen by the visitor. 

Many of Philadelphia's most famous men and women 
attended Christ Church during the Revolutionary period. 
Here assembled many patriots to pray for the cause of 
freedom. Here the ** Father of his Country," George 
Washington, worshiped. In fancy we can see him com- 
ing down the street in his elegant French coach, with his 
sturdy German driver in high cocked hat and queue, draw- 
ing the reins over two, and sometimes four or six, beau- 
tiful Virginia bays in glittering harness. How the people 
would press forward to catch a glimpse of this " nobleman 
of nature ! " When he reached the church he would alight 
with all that grace and dignity for which he was noted, 
and, bowing, present his hand to Lady Washington, after 
which he would lead the way to the family pew. It was 
to Christ Church that the Continental Congress came in a 
body from the Statehouse on July 20, 1775, and also on 
May 17, 1776, to attend the service of fasting and prayer. 
Here worshiped John Adams, the second President of the 
United States ; Lafayette, the celebrated French general 
and statesman, and America's dearest guest; Benjamin 



Franklin, the greatest of our early statesmen and scien- 
tists ; Betsy Ross, the maker of the first American flag ; 
Francis Hopkinson, the distinguished patriot, who acted 
for a time as warden and organist ; and Robert Morris, 
the great financier. Nearly all the provincial officers wor- 
shiped in Christ Church, and a special pew was reserved 
for their use ; this was afterwards occupied by the Presidents 
of the Federal and State Congresses. 

In Christ Church, in the yard adjoining, and in the ceme- 
tery belonging to the church, at Fifth and Arch streets, 
lie the remains of many of Philadelphia's most illustrious 
men and women, who were once the center of interest and 
influence in church and state, in public and in social life. 
Among these are Robert Morris, the financier of the A meri- 
can Revolution ; Benjamin Franklin and his wife ; Peyton 
Randolph, the first president of the Continental Congress ; 
William Bainbridge and Richard Dale, names renowned 
in American naval annals; General Charles Lee, a noted 
military commander; General William Irwin, a native of 
Ireland, who from a surgeon in the British navy became 
a major general in the American army ; Francis Hopkin- 
son, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- 
ence ; and Philip Syng Physick and Benjamin Rush, both 
famous physicians in Philadelphia. 

Christ Church has ever been prosperous. Her people 
continue to hold firmly to the faith of their fathers, and to 
honor the noble deeds of her illustrious sons. The vener- 
able building is a center of interest to all churchmen, and is 
an object of reverence to every patriotic American. It is 
especially noted as the first Protestant Episcopal cathe- 
dral in the United States. 



93 



FRANKLIN IN PHILADELPHIA. 

ON a bright Sunday morning in October, 1723, a 
young man walked up Market Street, the chief ave- 
nue of the city, eating a penny roll, and carrying a similar 
roll under each arm. He wore low shoes, woolen stockings, 
and knee breeches of buckskin, and a large overcoat, the 
capacious pockets of which were crammed with shirts and 
stockings. As he passed on, a pretty young woman of 
eighteen, who was standing at the door of her home, saw 
him, and laughed at his comical appearance. This young 
man was Benjamin Franklin, and the young woman who 
laughed at him was Deborah Read, who afterwards be- 
came his wife. 

Benjamin Franklin had ju.st arrived from Boston, where 
he was born January 17, 1706. He was the son of Josiah 
and Abiah Franklin, and the fifteenth child in a family 
of seventeen children, of whom seven were Josiah's by a 
former marriage. His early education was limited, as his 
father found that with the expense of a large family he 
could not afford to give his son a liberal education. At 
an early age he was taken from school to assist his father 
in the soap-manufacturing business. As a boy Franklin 
was fond of books, and spent much of his time in reading. 
At the age of twelve he was bound to his brother James 
for nine years, to learn the trade of a printer. At the end 
of three years of this apprenticeship his brother issued a 
newspaper called the " New England Courant." Franklin 
greatly aided in this enterprise, and in time became a con- 
tributor to the paper. He wrote an article, but, fearing his 



94 

brother's disapproval, slipped it under the printing house 
door at night. It was found in the morning, approved 
and printed. This article was followed by many others 
signed " Silence Dogood," all of which were accepted and 
printed ; the editor little suspecting that the silent boy 
behind the press was the author. At last Benjamin 
divulged his secret, and James, becoming jealous of his 
talent, treated him with injustice and cruelty. The end 
to this came speedily. An article in the ** Courant " gave 
offense to the colonial assembly. James was put in 
prison, and Benjamin Franklin^became sole proprietor and 
publisher of the paper when he was but sixteen years of 
age. The '* Courant " prospered, and was the most popu- 
lar paper in the colonies. When released, James became 
envious of his brother's success, and a quarrel caused a 
separation. As a result Benjamin was forced to leave 
Boston to find employment. 

Learning that a boat was about to sail for New York, 
FrankHn secured passage, and after a quick and pleasant 
voyage arrived in that city October, 1723. He went to 
William Bradford, the only printer in the town, who 
directed him to his son, Andrew Bradford, a printer in 
Philadelphia. After a long and wearisome journey 
Franklin, a friendless youth of seventeen, with one dollar 
and one shilling in his pocket, arrived at Philadelphia, and 
stepped ashore at the Market Street Wharf. Being very 
hungry, he entered a baker's shop and asked for three 
pennyworth of bread, and was greatly surprised when 
they gave him three large, puffy rolls that seemed out of 
all proportion to the price. Having no room in his 
pockets, he put a roll under each arm and walked up the 



95 

street eating the third. This was Benjamin Franklin's 
first breakfast in Philadelphia. 

The morning after Franklin arrived he went to Andrew 
Bradford, the printer, to find employment. Mr. Bradford 
directed him to another printer by the name of Samuel 
Keimer, with whom Franklin engaged. Keimer was not 
a business man, and knew very little about his trade, so 
that Franklin's expertness and ingenuity soon proved 
indispensable to him. For a time Franklin lived with 
Andrew Bradford, his printer friend ; but Keimer did not 
approve of this, and sent him to live with a Mr. Read, 
whose daughter had seen him eating a roll on the morning 
of his arrival in Philadelphia. 

One day while Franklin and his employer were working 
together in the printing office, they were surprised to hear 
of the arrival of Sir William Keith, the governor of Penn- 
sylvania. He had heard of the young printer's ability, 
and had come to see him. The governor paid Franklin 
many compliments, and promised to give him the public 
printing if he would set up business for himself. He 
proposed that Franklin should go to Boston and seek aid 
from his father to establish a printing office, taking with 
him a letter from the governor containing promises of royal 
patronage. Franklin set sail for Boston in April, 1724. 
His father declined, however, to give him any encourage- 
ment, thinking him too young to assume so great a re- 
sponsibility. He advised his son to return to Philadel- 
phia and work till he was twenty-one, when he would do 
all he could to help him. 

On Frankhn's return to Philadelphia he informed Keith 
of his ill success, whereupon the governor himself offered 



96 



to establish him in business. He requested FrankHn to 
make out a Hst of supphes, and persuaded him to go to 
England and purchase the required materials, promising 
him letters of introduction and letters of credit to printers 
there. Believing Sir William Keith to be one of the 
" best men in the world," Franklin prepared for the voy- 
age. It was with reluctance, however, that he did so, for 

he was now bound to his 
home by many ties of 
friendship, and a strong 
affection existed be- 
tween him and Deborah 
Read. 

Franklin arrived in 
London December 12, 
1724, with fifty dollars 
in his pocket. He found 
that he had been de- 
ceived by Keith who 
had no credit to give, 
that the letters were 
useless, and that he must rely entirely upon his own exer- 
tions. He succeeded in finding employment in a London 
printing office, where he distinguished himself by his en- 
ergy and skill. 

It is related that when Franklin applied for the position 
and stated that he came from America, there were jests 
and sneers at his expense, and the proprietor ironically 
asked to see a specimen of his work. He went to a case 
and picked up a stick, and quickly set up, " Can any good 
come out of Nazareth? Come and see." His skill and 




Franklin's Printing Press. 



97 

the apt answer pleased the proprietor, and FrankHn entered 
his employ. 

On his voyage to England Franklin had made the ac- 
quaintance of a Mr. Denham, an elderly man, who took a 
great interest in him, and who listened with sympathy to 
his story of Keith's insincerity. Their friendship increased, 
and the result was that Franklin agreed to return to Phila- 
delphia and act as clerk and bookkeeper in the extensive 
merchandise store which Mr. Denham proposed to open in 
that city. 

Franklin set sail from England July 21, 1726, and after 
a voyage of nearly three months arrived in Philadelphia 
October 11, 1726, having been absent from America a 
year and a half. He entered Mr. Denham's store, and 
soon became an expert in keeping accounts and selling 
goods. He had been engaged in this new work four 
months when Mr. Denham died. P>anklin was now with- 
out employment ; but a youth of twenty years, skillful as 
a printer, industrious, sensible, and popular, could not 
long remain idle. Induced by an offer of large wages, he 
accepted the position of superintendent of printing in the 
office of Keimer. Franklin began the work with his accus- 
tomed zeal, and by his ability and good disposition soon 
won the confidence of his employer. 

Within six months, however, Keimer began to assume 
the air of a master, and proposed to reduce his salary. 
Franklin resolved to leave his employ, as did also his 
friend Hugh Meredith, whose time of service had nearly 
expired. Meredith's father, a man of considerable fortune, 
was anxious to set his son up in business. He invited 
Franklin to enter into partnership with his son, and they 

STO. OF PHIL. —7 



98 

established a printing office in the rear of 53 Market Street, 
going in debt one thousand dollars for type and a press. 
In order to win the confidence of the public and secure 
their patronage, they resolved to practice industry, econ- 
omy, and integrity, and these sterling elements of character 
Franklin cultivated all through life. 

The young printers were so successful in business that 
in less than a year's time they were able to buy out the 
interest of Keimer, including the paper published by him, 
called " The Universal Instructor in all Arts and Sciences, 
and Pennsylvania Gazette," which at the time had ninety 
subscribers. Franklin changed the name of the paper to 
the " Pennsylvania Gazette," and on October 2, 1729, the 
first number w^as issued. His idea of a newspaper for that 
time was excellent ; the editorials were sparkling, the news 
attractive, and the advertisements paying. He discussed 
matters of public interest, advocated a high standard of 
morality, and invited his readers to write for the 
" Gazette." Not only did Franklin edit, print, and pub- 
lish his paper, but he also delivered it personally to local 
subscribers. The "Gazette" soon became one of the 
ablest papers in the colonies, and the people gave it their 
hearty support. 

In time the partnership of Franklin and Meredith was 
dissolved, for the latter had taken to drink, and was unfit 
for business. In the year 1732 Franklin's prosperity 
really began; he paid all his debts, and felt himself to be 
in independent circumstances. He opened a shop in 
connection with his printing office, where he sold books, 
paper, ink, quills, etc. He was often seen conveying paper 
through the streets in a wheelbarrow to his little shop. 



99 

Shortly after Franklin's return from England he married 
Deborah Read, September i, 1730. During his absence 
Miss Read had married a Mr. Rogers, who proved to be a 
worthless fellow and utterly unworthy of her. Soon after 
their marriage he fled from his creditors to the West In- 
dies, where he died in i 728. Dejected and sad, Mrs. Rogers 
returned to her mother and resumed her maiden name. She 
was a handsome woman, and proved to be an excellent 
wife for Franklin ; she was industrious, thrifty, and affec- 
tionate, and many beautiful passages are extant in which 
Franklin shows his tenderness and his devotion to her mem- 
ory. By this marriage Franklin had two children, Francis 
Folger Franklin, who died November 21, 1736, at the age 
of four years, and whose remains lie buried in Christ 
Church burying ground, and Sarah Franklin, who mar- 
ried Richard Bache of Philadelphia. 
O* In time Franklin's business increased and he became 
.the chief printer and publisher not only in Philadelphia, 
but in the province. He understood the character and 
taste of the American people, and his writings did much 
to mold their sentiments and habits of thought. In 1734 
he secured the public printing in the colony. In 1741 
he formed the idea of publishing a monthly magazine 
called the '* General Magazine," and anounnced his plan 
in the ''Gazette." John Webbe was chosen editor; but 
the magazine was unsuccessful, and the publication soon 
ceased. The same year Franklin isued a pamphlet 
called " Plain Truth," showing the helpless condition of 
Philadelphia against the French and Indian allies, and in- 
sisting upon measures being taken for defense. The peo- 
ple were aroused to a sense of their danger; ten thousand 



lOO 

persons responded, and eighty companies were organized. 
Franklin was chosen colonel. He declined to act as an 
officer, and entered the ranks as a private soldier. Fortun- 
ately, peace was soon established by the treaty of Aix-la- 
Chapelle, and the companies were disbanded. Meanwhile 
Franklin had become very popular, and the people looked 
upon him as a patriot, friend, and helper in time of need. 

As every printer in the colonies published an almanac, 
so Franklin planned one, the first number of which was 
issued in December, 1732, under the name of Richard 
Saunders. " Poor Richard," as the people called the 
almanac, contained, besides the usual information found in 
almanacs, a collection of maxims in quaint and simple lan- 
guage. It became very popular, and for twenty- five years 
there was an annual sale of ten thousand copies. It was 
published in many foreign countries and in many languages. 

Franklin always manifested great interest in public 
affairs, and was noted for his efforts in the improvement 
of his adopted city. In order to promote virtue, know- 
ledge, and wisdom, he founded, in the autumn of 1728, 
a literary club called the ''Junto," or "Leathern Apron 
Club," consisting of eleven members. At its meetings, 
held every Friday evening, there were twenty-four ques- 
tions read and discussed, relating to morals, politics, and 
natural philosophy. Recitations, essays, and songs were 
also a part of the programme. Franklin himself often 
entertained the club with an original song. For forty 
years the Junto prospered, and pro\'ed a source of intel- 
lectual and social benefit to its members, a great good to 
Philadelphia, and eventually to all the colonies. 

About the year 1729 Franklin conceived the idea of 



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\Ricbard fays, '77/ /oo/i/?' /« /^ o«/ Afoa^ 
in a Fur chafe of Repentance \ and yet this 
2» Folly is pra6tifcd every Day at Vendues 
*3fbr want of minding the Almanack 
^^mp Men, as Poor Dick fays, /^^« by 
^^ others Harms, Foots '' ' ' ' ' -~ 
"but, Fehxqtum 



ts Jcarctly fy their eivn'i 

facttmt auena Fcricula 

^J^aj^tuftt. Many a one, for the Sake of 

Finery on the Back, have gone with a 

; hungry Belly, and half ftaived their Fa> 

^, mi lies J Silks and Sa/ti^js, Scarlet andf^el- 

> <vets, as Poor Richard fays, put out the 

.% Kifch^ Fire, Thefe are not the NeceJTa 

'3 ries of Life j they can fcareely be called 

11 4 the ConvenJeuciej, .znd yet only becaufe 

12 5 they look pretty, how many Tvant to| 
I 6 have them. The artifcial Wants of Man- 
I 7 kind thus become more numerous than 
» 8 the natural j and, as Poor Dick fays, For 

3 9 o«^ poor Perfon, there are an hundred in 

4 »o digent. By thefe, and other Exti^ava- 

5 -^^ ganoies, the Genteel are reduced to Po 

6 ra verty, and forced to borrow of tliofe 

7 .^3 whom" they formerly defpifed, but who 
^^ through Indufry and Frugahtyh^^ye main- 
Jl tained their Standing j in which Cafe it 

appears plainly, that a. Ploughman on hi 
' legs is higher than a Gentleman on his 



Knees, as Poor Richard hy^ Perhaps 
j^ they 'have had a fniall Mate left them.. 
^ •" whioh 



A Page from Poor Richard's Almanac. 



I02 

founding a library. He suggested at one of the meetings 
of the Junto that each member should bring the books 
he owned and leave them for the good of all in the room 
where the Junto met. This plan was adopted, and 
proved a great benefit to the club ; but some books hav- 
ing been injured, the owners resolved to take their books 
away. In 1731 Franklin carried out his idea of founding 
a subscription library. He succeeded in enlisting the 
names of fifty persons, chiefly young tradesmen, each 
willing to pay forty shillings for the first purchase of 
books and ten shillings annually. A list of books was 
selected by James Logan, " a gentleman of universal 
learning, and the best judge of books in these parts," 
and forty-fi\'e pounds were sent to London to purchase 
them. In October, i 732, the long-expected volumes were 
received. The library was first opened in the Junto room, 
and books were given out once a week to the mem- 
bers. At this time Franklin ser\-ed as librarian, and 
printed a catalogue of the books collected. The interest 
in the library, as well as the number of subscribers, in- 
creased ; valuable donations were frequently made, and in 
this way the first subscription library in America was 
established. In 1 740 this library was removed to the 
west wing of the Statehouse, where it remained until 
1773, when it was taken to Carpenters' Hall, just in time 
for the use of the First Continental Congress. In i 789 
a lot was secured on Fifth Street, below Chestnut, and a 
library building was erected. On the corner stone was 
the following inscription, composed by Franklin, except 
the part referring to himself, which was added by the 
directors of the Library Company : 



I03 

" Be it remembered, 

in honor of the Philadelphia youth 

(then chiefly artificers), 

that in MDCCXXXI 

they cheerfully, 

at the instance of Benjamin Franklin, 

one of their number, 

instituted the Philadelphia Library, 

which, though small at first, 

is become highly valuable and extensively useful, 

and which the walls of this edifice 

are now destined to contain and preserve ; 

the first stone of whose foundation 

was here placed 

the thirty-first day of August, 1789." 

In 1880 the Philadelphia Library Company erected a 
spacious building on the northwest corner of Juniper and 
Locust streets, which building it now occupies. Over the 
doorway is a statue of Franklin, executed in Carrara, 
Italy, and presented to the Library Company by William 
Bingham. This library contains one hundred and ninety 
thousand volumes, and among its relics is an almost com- 
plete file of the " Pennsylvania Gazette," in which may 
be traced the career of Benjamin Franklin as an editor. 

Franklin's love of study, and his desire to extend knowl- 
edge, led him to propose, on May 14, 1743, a plan for the 
organization of an American Philosophical Society at Phil- 
adelphia. The object of this society was to associate the 
scientists, philosophers, and inventors of Europe and Amer- 
ica, and thus advance science and diffuse knowledge in the 



I04 

city and provinces. Among its members from Philadel- 
phia were Francis Hopkinson, statesman and poet ; Ben- 
jamin West, the celebrated painter of '* Penn's Treaty with 
the Indians;" John Bartram, the greatest of American 
botanists ; Thomas Hopkinson, Ebenezer Kinnersley, and 
Philip Syng, who aided Franklin m various electrical dis- 
coveries; and David Rittenhouse, the eminent astronomer 
and mathematician. In 1769 Franklin became the soci- 
ety's first president, and he was annually elected to that 
office for twenty-two years. 

About the year i 749 Franklin saw the way clear to make 
public his long-cherished scheme for an educational insti- 
tution. This was done in a pamphlet entitled " Proposals 
relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania." It 
was folded in the ** Gazette " and sent to the subscribers, 
soliciting the advice and subscriptions of its readers in 
order to carry out the proposed scheme. The sum of 
five thousand dollars was raised, and the building, organi- 
zation, and success of the institution depended largely 
upon the efforts of F'ranklin. A lot was finally procured 
on Fourth Street, near Arch, and a large building called 
the Academy w^as erected. Later this institution became 
the College of Philadelphia, and P'ranklin was appointed 
the first president of its board of directors. The result 
of his efforts w^as the establishment of the University of 
Pennsylvania, one of the foremost institutions of learning 
in America. 

Franklin now turned his attention, in connection with 
Dr. Thomas Bond, to the establishment of a public hospital. 
By his efforts the interest of the people was aroused, liberal 
subscriptions were secured, and an organization effected 



I05 

which resulted in the estabHshment of the Pennsylvania 
Hospital, located at Eighth and Spruce streets. This 
hospital is one of the most extensive and best-conducted 
institutions of its kind in the world. On the corner stone 
of this magnificent colonial building we read the following 
inscription written by Franklin himself: 

"hi the year of CHRIST MDCCLV George the Second happily 
reigning (for he sought the happiness of his people), Philadelphia 
flourishing (for its inhabitants were public spirited), this building, 
by the bounty of the government, and of many private persons, was 
piously founded for the relief of the sick and miserable. May the 
OOD OF MERCIES bless the undertaking." 

In 1743 Franklin investigated the course of storms over 
the North American continent, and thus laid the founda- 
tions of the science of meteorology. He also noted the 
important characteristics of the Gulf Stream, its high 
temperature and velocity of current, and applied the use 
of the thermometer to navigation. About the same time 
he invented the Franklin stove, or " Pennsydvania Fire- 
place," which was the first movable stove invented in 
the colonies. The governor offered him a patent, but he 
declined it, saying that he owed any and every invention 
to his fellow-men. 

Franklin succeeded in improving the night watch service 
of the city, and also the paving, lighting, and cleaning of 
its streets. By^ his efforts the Union Fire Company was 
formed, of which he was a member for fifty years. It was 
so efficient that Franklin could truly say : " Since that time 
the city has never lost by fire more than one or two 




Benjamin Franklin. 



I07 

houses at a time, and the flames have often been ex- 
tinguished before the house in which they began has been 
half consumed." 

In order to devote more time to study, Franklin, in 
I 748, sold his newspaper, almanac, and printing house to 
David Hall, one of his employees, in consideration of 
eighteen thousand pounds, payable in eighteen years, 
during which time Franklin was to contribute occasionally 
to the ''Pennsylvania Gazette," and assist in editing 
" Poor Richard." He then removed to a quiet part of the 
town and devoted himself to scientific pursuits. 



J>«<CH 



FRANKLIN AND HIS KITE. 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN was the most distin- 
' guished kite flyer in the world, and it will be inter- 
esting to learn why he should be engaged in flying a kite. 
Many men about this time were interested in the study of 
electricity. One of the many experiments was to charge 
a Leyden jar with electricity and then discharge it, when 
there would be a bright flash, followed by a loud report. 
The question was being asked by philosophers whether 
in a thunder storm the lightning flash and the noise of 
the thunder were not caused by electricity. In order to 
answer this question it was proposed to build a high tower 
reaching towards the sky, and then with sharp-pointed iron 
rods see if electricity could be drawn from passing clouds. 
While they were discussing this plan Franklin one day 



io8 




saw a boy flying a paper kite, and it occurred to him 
that he could send a kite up to the clouds and thus, with- 
out a high tower, ascertain whether they were charged 

with electricity. He prepared 
a kite covered with a large 
silk handkerchief in- 
stead of paper, and 
fastened a pointed 
piece of wire at the 
top of the middle 
stick. The string 
of the kite was 
hemp, except the 
part held in the 
hand, which was 
silk. At the end of 
the hempen string 
a common key was 
fastened, and near 
by was a Leyden jar 
to be charged with 
electricity. With this 
kite he started out 

•• Spark after spark was seen." ^^^^ ^is home one 

stormy evening in 
June, 1752, and went, probably, to a field at the corner 
of Eighth and Race streets, Philadelphia. His son, a 
young man twenty-two years of age, accompanied him. 
In the field was a shed, under which they stood to avoid 
the rain and watch the kite as it rose toward the sky. 
Presently a thunder cloud passed directh' over the kite, 



109 

yet there were no signs of electricity. Franklin was 
becoming discouraged, when suddenly he saw the fibers 
of the hempen string rise and separate. He immediately 
struck his knuckle against the key, and spark after spark 
was seen. Both Franklin and his son received severe 
shocks, and the Leyden jar was charged with electricity. 
The wet kite was now drawn down, the materials packed, 
and Franklin returned to his home exultant. Through 
this simple experiment with the kite he solved one of the 
problems which had puzzled the wisest men of the age , 
and proved that the electric flash and lightning are the 
same. 

This great discovery was the result of many years' 
study of electrical phenomena. While Franklin was visit- 
ing in Boston in the year i 746, he saw for the first time 
an electrical tube, the property of Dr. Spence, a native of 
Scotland. A few weeks afterwards Peter CoUinson, the 
London agent for the Library Company of Philadelphia, 
and a member of the Royal Society of Europe, sent over 
an electrical tube and Leyden jar, with instructions for its 
use. This fell into the hands of Franklin, to whom it was 
an object of great interest, and he never became weary 
of experimenting with it. He wrote to a friend : " I never 
was before engaged in any study that so totally engrossed 
my attention and time as this has lately done ; for, what 
with making experiments when I can be alone, and repeat- 
ing them to my friends and acquaintance, who, from the 
novelty of the thing, come continually in crowds to see 
them, I have, during some months past, had little leisure 
for anything else." 

Franklin devoted the entire winter of 1746-47 to ex- 



no 

perimenting with the Leyden jar, that he might thoroughly 
understand its use. Many important truths were dis- 
covered, one of which was that two bodies repel each other 
if they are electrified by the same pole, and attract each 
other if they are electrified by opposite poles. Franklin 
was the first to assert that electricity is not created, but 
only collected by friction and retained by attraction. 

On March 28, 1747, Franklin began a correspondence 
with Collinson, telling him the progress he was making in 
the new science. In a letter to Collinson, dated July, 1 747, 
he states his theory of positive and negative electricity. 
In this he explained that certain bodies which contained 
more electricity than others were electrified positively, 
while bodies having less than their normal quantity were 
electrified negatively. He found that a certain amount 
of this form of force could be withdrawn from bodies 
electrified positively and transferred to negative bodies 
having attractive properties, and on this theory he ex- 
plained the action of the Leyden jar. He conceived the 
idea of connecting a number of Leyden jars, and thus 
strengthening and storing the electric current. The elec- 
trical machine which he used is in the possession of the 
Franklin Institute, Philadelphia. 

The result of Franklin's experiments, as stated in his 
letters, was regarded by Collinson of so much impor- 
tance that he offered them to the Royal Society for 
publication ; but they were at first refused. The society 
claimed that such experiments would result in " terrible 
mischief," and Franklin was laughed at and his letters 
declared to be of no account. Even Abbe Nollet, pre- 
ceptor in natural philosophy to the royal family in 



Ill 

France, insisted that the man named Benjamin Franklin, 
of Philadelphia, did not exist. 

In 1749 Franklin wrote a treatise entitled "Observa- 
tions and Suppositions towards forming a new Hypothesis 
for explaining the several Phenomena of Thunder-gusts." 
This work was soon followed by the greatest of all his 
writings on electricity, suggesting how buildings and ships 
could be protected from lightning. It was entitled " Opin- 
ions and Conjectures concerning the Properties and Effects 
of the Electrical Matter, and the Means of Preserving 
Buildings, Ships, &c., from Lightning, arising from Ex- 
periments and Observations made at Philadelphia, 1749." 
In this treatise he explains the tendency of points to at- 
tract electricity, and advocates their erection on high build- 
ings and on ships at sea. 

Naturally there were many opponents to his theory. 
Some said *' it was as impious to ward off Heaven's light- 
nings as for a child to ward off the chastening rod of its 
father;" and ministers even preached elaborate sermons 
upon the ** presumption of philosophy in erecting iron 
rods to draw the lightning from the clouds," and the vain 
attempts of philosophers to " control the artillery of 
Heaven." 

In his masterly paper was the statement that elec- 
tricity and lightning are identical. To prove this fact 
he proposed the following experiment: "On the top of 
some high tower or steeple, place a kind of sentry box, 
big enough to contain a man and an electric stand. 
From the middle of the stand let an iron rod rise and 
pass bending out of the door, and then upright twenty or 
thirty feet, pointed very sharp at the end. If the elec- 



I 12 

trical stand be kept clean and dry, a man standing on it, 
when such clouds are passing low, might be electrified and 
afford sparks, the rod drawing fire to him from a cloud. 
If any danger to the man should be apprehended (though 
I think there would be none), let him stand on the floor of 
his box, and now and then bring near to the rod the loop 
of a wire that has one end fastened to the leads, he hold- 
ing it by a wax handle ; so the sparks, if the rod is electri- 
fied, will strike from the rod to the wire, and not afi^ect 
him." This bold but simple suggestion for the solution 
of a mysterious problem proved his wonderful genius and 
arrested the attention of the greatest philosophers in 
Europe and America. 

When the fame of Franklin began to spread throughout 
Europe, Collinson determined, if possible, to give the views 
of the American electrician to the world. Franklin's letters, 
containing the results of his experiments from i 747 to i 75 i, 
were finally collected and pubHshed in a pamphlet. Many 
of the philosophers in England were unwilling to believe 
that an obscure American, in the wilds of the New World, 
was outstripping them in philosophical research. They 
would not acknowledge either the value or the reality of 
his experiments. A copy of the pamphlet was presented 
to the Royal Society, and one of its members, Sir William 
Watson, was requested to prepare an abstract of its 
contents and to report on its merits. He did so, and 
gave Franklin generous praise. He spoke of him as an 
able and ingenious man, who had *' a head to conceive 
and a hand to execute," and who knew as much of elec- 
tricity as any one in the world. These letters attracted 
so much attention that they went through five editions in 



113 

London, and in time were translated into French, German, 
Latin, and Italian. 

Philosophers and scientists all over Europe were anx- 
ious to try the experiment proposed in the pamphlet. At 
St. Petersburg in Russia, Professor Richman, a scientist, 
in attempting to draw electricity from the clouds, was so 
shocked by the electric current that he died. Several 
eminent philosophers, encouraged by Louis XV., King of 
France, also performed the experiment. May lo, 1752, and 
their success confirmed Franklin's assertions. They ad- 
mitted that it was Franklin's letters which suggested the 
manner of experiment and its certain result, and thus they 
gave the credit to whom it was due. 

In recognition of Franklin's discoveries in electricity, 
both Yale and Harvard conferred upon him the honorary 
degree of Master of Arts. The Royal Society, which years 
before had scorned his theories, elected him an honorary 
member when he was but forty-seven years of age. In 
the year 1754 this society awarded him their highest 
honor, the Copley medal. 

A friend and fellow-experimenter with Franklin, by the 
name of Ebenezer Kinnersley, of Philadelphia, wrote to 
his *' Master of Science," as he termed Franklin, after 
fourteen years in the study of ejectricity : ** May this 
method of security from the destructive violence of one 
of the most awful powers of nature, meet with such further 
success, as to induce every good and grateful heart to 
bless God for the important discovery! May the benefit 
thereof be diffused over the whole globe ! May it extend 
to the latest posterity of mankind, and make the name of 
Franklin, like that of Newton, immortal !'' 

STO. OF PHIL. —8 



114 




Franklin Relics. 



FRANKLIN AS A STATESMAN. 



FRANKLIN had long desired repose from an active 
business life, that he might devote his time to 
study ; but his success in business and his fame as a phi- 
losopher led the people to desire him to enter public ser- 
vice. The governor appointed him a justice of the peace, 
the people elected him a member of the city council, and he 
subsequently became an alderman, a burgess, and a mem- 
ber of the Assembly. In all of these positions he was dis- 
tinguished for faithful and efficient service. 

At a meeting of the Assembly, December, 1756, Frank- 
lin advocated the right of the province to tax the estates 
of the proprietaries — the unworthy sons and heirs of 
William Penn — in common with those of the people. 
The Assembly drew a bill to this effect, but the gover- 



115 

nor refused to sign it, and determined to appeal to the 
king in support of his position, whereupon the Assembl)^ 
resolved to send Franklin to England as agent of the 
province, to present and defend a counter-petition. 

On his arrival in England, July 27, 1757, Franklin pre- 
sented his petition to the proprietaries, who sent word back 
to the Assembly that the petition was informal and dis- 
respectful, that Franklin was rude, and that a man of 
''candor" should be sent to treat with them. In reply 
the Assembly taxed the estates of the Penns in common 
with those of the people. For two years Franklin labored 
to convince the Penns and Parliament of the justice of 
equal taxation, but without avail. During this time he 
wrote an '' Historical Review " showing the false claims 
and ** incredible meanness" of the Penns, which all Eng- 
land and America read with astonishment. In 1758 the 
deputy governor of Pennsylvania signed an act, passed 
by the Assembly, granting the power to tax all estates in 
the province equally, and for this offense he was removed 
from office by the proprietaries. The Penns strove for the 
repeal of this act, and the Lords of Committee at first sus- 
tained them. At this time the Speaker of the Assembly 
wrote to Franklin : " We are at present among rocks and 
sands, in a stormy season, and it depends on you to do 
everything in your power in the present crisis ; for it is too 
late for us to give you any assistance." By his skill and 
diplomacy Franklin at length persuaded the English lords 
to reconsider and reverse their decision, and the act was left 
unrepealed. In this Franklin not only defeated the Penns 
and secured equal taxation in the province, but forced 
both England and the colonies to recognize his genius and 



Ii6 

the justice of the principle he advocated. He was so suc- 
cessful as the agent of Pennsylvania that in time Massa- 
chusetts, Maryland, and Georgia severally appointed him 
their deputy. He remained five years in London as 
resident agent for the province of Pennsylvania, and the 
Assembly voted him twenty thousand dollars for his 
services. 

Franklin returned to Philadelphia in the autumn of 
1762. In the year 1764 he was defeated for the Assem- 
bly. When the Assembly met, dissensions with the gov- 
ernor continued to arise, and they were forced to adjourn. 
In the meantime Franklin used the press with such telling 
effect that when the Assembly again met, May 14, 1764, 
it was found that three thousand against three hundred 
citizens had petitioned for a change from a proprietary to 
a regal form of government. The Assembly also took into 
consideration the right of the Parliament of England to 
create and enforce a stamp act upon the colonists. 

On these issues the Assembly, in November, 1764, 
again sent Franklin to England in their interest. In 
reference to the Stamp Act, his instructions were '* That, 
as the Assembly always had, so they always should, think 
it their duty to grant aid to the crown, according to their 
abilities, whenever required of them, in the usual constitu- 
tional manner." As a mark of honor, three hundred city 
troops escorted Franklin to the vessel at Chester. After 
thirty days' voyage he arrived in England December 10, 
1764. 

Franklin found that the consideration of the Stamp Act 
overshadowed all proprietary interests, and he did all in 
his power to prevent it from becoming a law. He wrote 



117 

home : " I took every step in my power to prevent the 
passing of the Stamp Act. But the tide was too strong 
against us." After the passage of the act, FrankHn was 
requested by the crown's officer to suggest the name of 
a responsible person to act as stamp collector in the 
province; he suggested John Hughes, who was appointed. 
The colonists were incensed, and thought Franklin had be- 
trayed them; but in this they misjudged him, for he was 
working in their interest. From the 3d to the 13th of 
February, I 766, Franklin was before the House of Com- 
mons, the principal witness against the Stamp Act. He 
was examined and cross-examined by the ablest lawyers 
in England. With perfect control of voice, feature, and 
tempers, in language concise and clear, he made state- 
ments that astonished Parliament, instructed England, and 
thrilled America. He assured Parliament that the colonists 
would never submit to the Stamp Act, or any act that com- 
pelled them to pay taxes without representation — " never, 
unless compelled by force of arms." He said he preferred 
to lose the amounts due him in America rather than give 
a receipt on stamped paper. He declared the colonies 
were not within the realm of Great Britain ; besides, the 
colonists brought no laws with them, but only the power to 
make laws suitable to their needs. Therefore " the Par- 
liament of Great Britain has not, never had, and of right 
never can have, without consent given, before or after, 
power to make laws of sufficient force to bind the sub- 
jects of America in any case whatever, and particularly in 
taxation." He explained how the English manufacturers 
and. the industrial class in England were more injured by 
the act than the American merchant and consumer ; and 



ii8 

his assertion that the application of the act was more injur- 
ious to British trade than to the Americans, was the in- 
fluence that finally repealed the Stamp Act. Parliament, 
however, immediately passed a law declaring its right to 
tax the colonists. Franklin declared : '' I have some little 
property in America ; I will freely spend nineteen shil- 
lings in the pound to defend my right of giving or refusing 
the other shilling; and, after all, if I cannot defend that 
right, I can retire cheerfully with my little family into 
the boundless woods of America, which are sure to aflford 
freedom and subsistence to any man who can bait a hook 
or pull a trigger." 

About this time Franklin secured from a friend some 
letters written by prominent men in the colonies, urging 
the king to send British troops to America. Franklin ob- 
tained permission to send these letters to America, provided 
they were returned and the owner's name not mentioned. 
The signatures were cut out and the letters sent to some of 
Franklin's friends, one of whom discovered the authors. 
Franklin was accused of having sold or stolen the letters, 
and refusing to betray the name of his friend, was put on 
trial. At his trial he was shamefully abused, yet his self- 
control was marvelous. He stood before the council with 
his elbow resting on the mantelpiece and his cheek on his 
hand. His costume was of rich figured silk velvet, simple 
yet elegant ; in all that room there was not an individual 
who in physical beauty was the peer of Franklin, and cer- 
tainly there was no one who in intellectual greatness could 
compare with him. The next day the king dismissed him 
from the office of Postmaster- General in America, which 
act so incensed the Americans that they immediately 



119 

established private mail routes, thus depriving the king's 
treasury of thousands of dollars. 

Patriotism and personal safety now induced Franklin 
to return to America. He arrived in Philadelphia May 5, 
1775. He found that war had already begun; the battle 
of Lexington and Concord had been fought. The citizens 
welcomed him as a leader, and on the day following his 
arrival he was unanimously elected a member of the Con- 
tinental Congress, which was to meet in Philadelphia five 
days later, May 10, 1775. When this Congress met they 
appointed Franklin Postmaster- General of the colonies. 
This was the first official appointment made by the United 
Colonies, and it was regarded as treason by the King of 
Great Britain. Franklin was also selected chairman of 
the Committee of Safety for the defenses of Philadelphia. 
He at once organized military companies, and set them 
training in every public square in the city. He served in 
the year 1775 on ten different committees. On the 13th 
of September, 1775, Congress appointed him one of three 
commissioners to confer with Washington at Boston in 
reference to the raising and furnishing of supplies for the 
American army. In December of the same year he was 
appointed one of three commissioners to confer with Arnold 
respecting Canadian affairs. When in 1776 the Commit- 
tee of Safety recommended the people of Pennsylvania to 
elect delegates to a conference, so as to organize a new 
form of government, Franklin was appointed one of those 
delegates. When a committee was appointed to draw up 
a Declaration of Independence, Franklin's was the second 
name on the list. On the i6th of July, 1776, the conven- 
tion to form a constitution for the State of Pennsylvania 



I20 

met at Philadelphia, and Franklin was unanimously elected 
president, and four days later was chosen by the conven- 
tion one of nine delegates to represent Pennsylvania in the 
national Congress. 

In this month Lord Howe, commander in chief of the 
British forces, arrived in America. He corresponded with 
Franklin and requested an interview. Franklin laid the 
letters before Congress, which appointed Franklin one of 
three commissioners to visit Howe. Howe received him 
kindly, and said : " If America should fall I should lament 
it like a brother." Franklin replied: "My lord, we will 
use our utmost endeavors to save your lordship that mor- 
tification." Howe then expressed a desire to treat "'back 
of this step of independency," to which Franklin replied : 
" Forces have been sent out, towns have been burned. 
We cannot now expect happiness under the domination 
of Great Britain. All former attachments are obliterated. 
America cannot return to tlie domination of Great Britain, 
and I imagine that Great Britain means to rest it upon 
force." 

In September, 1776, Franklin was elected by Con- 
gress ambassador to P>ance. His last act before leav- 
ing America was to gather all his available wealth, some 
twelve thousand pounds, and loan it to the new govern- 
ment, whose treasury was empty. This act greatly en- 
couraged the colonists. When he landed at Nantes, 
France, December 10, 1776, he was received with delight, 
and his entry into Paris was an ovation. Franklin re- 
quested of the king a treaty of amity and commerce. 
The king and his council assured him of their good will, and 
their readiness to help the American cause by secret means, 



121 

but dared not openly negotiate a treaty. While in France 
Franklin was besieged by office seekers for personal 
recommendations to Washington and to Congress. He 
turned them all away except a young French nobleman, 
Marquis de Lafayette, nineteen years of age, and a Ger- 
man, Baron de Steuben, both of whom became distin- 
guished in our struggle for freedom. 

In these darkest days of the Revolution Franklin 
solicited the King of France to furnish a vessel and 
make a loan of five million dollars, which request was the 
more readily complied with when the news came that 
General Burgoyne and his whole army were prisoners of 
war, and that Howe was in full retreat from Philadelphia. 

At this crisis Great Britain became alarmed, fearing 
that Franklin, with his ability, diplomacy, and popularity, 
would accomplish the transfer of the colonies to France. 
Great Britain now offered everything but independence, 
France offered everything with independence, for Ameri- 
ca's friendship. One of the English lords came to Frank- 
lin to inquire on what terms the American envoys were 
disposed to sue for peace. Franklin replied that they had 
no propositions to make, for " the dependency of the 
colonies is gone like the clouds of last year." When the 
news of these negotiations reached the French court, 
the King of France sent word to the envoys to renew their 
request for a treaty. They did so, and a private treaty of 
amity, commerce, and alliance was signed between France 
and the United States February 6, 1778. 

On the 23d of March, 1778, Franklin appeared in "the 
simple dress of a gentleman " at the court of Versailles 
before Louis XVI. and Queen Antoinette, the most dis- 



122 

tinguished of all their guests. When England heard of 
the treaty, many eminent persons were sent to treat with 
Franklin, saying, " Take all you ever asked for, take several 
things you never asked for, only don't forsake your mother 
country, and throw yourselves in the arms of our and your 
natural enemy, perfidious France." Later, a letter ad- 
dressed to Franklin was thrown in his window. It was 
written in English, headed "Brussels, June i6, 1778," and 
signed by Charles de Weissenstein. It contained a plan 
for the union of the colonies with Great Britain, advised 
the colonies to distrust France, and proposed pensions or 
offices for life to those American officers who would join 
the British cause. A list of these was given, headed with 
Franklin's name. Franklin knew that the letter came from 
the King of Great Britain, and replied that all the hopes 
of " places, pensions, and peerages could not corrupt a 
single patriot." 

Through the influence of Franklin, France appropriated 
twenty million francs, fitted out sixteen war vessels, and 
raised an army of four thousand men, to aid the American 
cause. The other envoys became secondary, and Frank- 
lin was appointed minister plenipotentiary of the United 
States to France. 

When the news of Cornwallis's surrender reached Frank- 
lin he knew the war was practically over, and asked to be 
relieved from further duty ; but Congress, foreseeing that 
there must be a treaty of peace between Great Britain and 
the United States, requested him to remain, until its con- 
summation. On June 13, 1783, Great Britain recognized 
the independence of the United States, and Franklin on 
the 3d of September, in behalf of the colonists, signed the 



123 

treaty, the King of Great Britain signing the document 
April 9, 1784. Franklin was then recalled by Congress, 
and when he sent his farewell to the King and Queen of 
France, Louis XVI. sent him his portrait twice encircled 
by four hundred and eight diamonds, and worth about ten 
thousand dollars. 

Franklin set sail for America July 28, 1785, and arrived 
in Philadelphia on the 14th of September of the same 
year. The streets were decorated in honor of his arrival ; 
great crowds pressed eagerly forward to see him and cheer 
him, for, next to Washington, he was the man whom 
Americans most delighted to honor as a true patriot and 
friend of the people. 

The Assembly being in session, they immediately voted 
Franklin their congratulations, and Washington addressed 
him a letter of welcome. He was soon after elected 
president of the State of Pennsylvania, and served in this 
office three years. A president of the State at that time 
held the same official position that a governor holds to- 
day. In 1787 he was chosen a delegate to the convention 
which met in the Statehouse in Philadelphia to frame a 
new Constitution for the United States. 

P'ranklin retired from public life in the year 1788, after 
a continuous public service of more than forty years. His 
last public act was a memorial addressed to Congress, 
signed by him as president of the Abolition Society, 
denouncing the slave trade as " abominable," and the 
slave commerce as a " crime." 

Benjamin Franklin, the great statesman and patriot, 
died at Philadelphia, April 17, 1790. He was buried in 
Christ Church burial ground, and a lowly monument now 



124 

marks the resting place of this immortal man. Congress 
wore a badge of mourning for thirty days, and the entire 
world united in paying homage to his memory. Many 
eulogies on his life and character were delivered, among 
which were those of Dr. Ezra Stiles of Boston, and of Dr. 
William Smith of Philadelphia. All Europe mourned his 










Franklin's Grave. 



loss, and France wept when his death was announced. 
Mirabeau, at the opening of the National Assembly, June 
1 1, 1790, exclaimed : ** Franklin is dead! The genius that 
freed America and poured a flood of light ov^er Europe 
has returned to the bosom of Divinity." 



125 



BARTRAM AND HIS GARDEN. 

THE story of John Bartram and his garden is replete 
with historic interest. Europe and America are 
indebted to him, " the greatest natural botanist in the 
world," first, for the description of North American plant 
life, and second, for the laying out of the first botanical 
garden in America. 

Bartram's garden is situated in West Philadelphia, near 
Fifty-fourth Street and Woodland Avenue. A short dis- 
tance from the garden, at the junction of the Philadelphia 
and Reading with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, is 
Bartram station. The garden is about eleven acres in ex- 
tent, and rises rather abruptly from the river bank. Much 
of the farm land has reverted to its original condition, 
" unfit for plow or scythe," and it seems almost incredible 
that it could have been at one time, even under Bartram's 
care, a rich meadow where red clover blossomed, nodding 
daisies bloomed, and luscious berries grew. 

John Bartram, the founder of this garden, was born 
March 23, 1699, near the village of Darb}-, Delaware 
County. He was brought up to a farming life, and his 
education was only such as the country schools at the 
time afforded. At a very early age he took an interest in 
plants. Later in life he said : " T had always since ten 
years old a great inclination to plants, and knew all that I 
once observed by sight, though not their proper names, 
having no person or books to instruct me." His great 
love of plants, and his desire to utilize them for the benefit 
of mankind, led him to conceive the idea of laying out a 



26 



botanical garden. In the year 1728 he bought at sheriff's 
sale a large tract of land, and " here he built with his own 
hands a comfortable house of hewn stone, and laid out a 

garden containing about 
five acres." 

The visitor to this gar- 
den is first attracted by 
an immense bald cypress 
tree, about one hundred 
and twenty feet high and 
twenty-seven feet six 
inches in circumference. 
This tree, the monarch 
of the garden, was trans- 
planted here from Caro- 
lina in 1766. It is now 
dead, but still stands 
among its living contem- 
poraries, a gnarled sugar 
Bartram's Tree. ^^^pj^^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^ 

buttonwood. Near by are a magnolia and a Norway 
spruce, each of which is nearly a hundred feet high. 
Great pines, equal in age and once rivals in height, whose 
tops have been broken off by the storms, stand as sen- 
tinels in this forest garden. Down by the river is an 
old stone cider mill, which, it is said, was hewn out of the 
solid rock by Bartram's own hands. Just above this mill, 
beyond the river bank, is the grave of an old and faithful 
slave. Climbing the hill, which is neatly terraced, the 
visitor arrives at an ivy-covered farmhouse capped with 
six dormer windows. In the gable end of the house, cut 




127 



deep in the stone, is the legend, '* John * Ann Bartram, 
I 731." On the east side, above one of the front windows 
and over the study, is carved the creed of the first occupant : 

" 'Tis God alone, Almighty Lord, 
The Holy One by me adored. 

John Bartram, 1770." 

On the east side of the house is a colonnade porch, 

supported by round stone columns, once beautifully 

carved with figures 

of vines, but now 

marred by the 

storms of time. Two 

double doorways 

front this porch, 

while from the same 

porch doors open 

into the right and 

left wings of the 

building. In the 

main building a 

cozy, quaint fireplace, now used for closets, once gave 

comfort to John Bartram and his wife at the close of day. 

In a room adjoining is Mrs. Bartram's china closet, back 

of which is a secret shelf, on which John Bartram hid his 

treasures. Perhaps the most sacred room in the house is 

the study room, or library, situated on the first floor, 

southeast side of the building, facing the river. It was 

here that Bartram penned those letters to ColHnson, the 

eminent Quaker botanist of London, which made his name 

famous all over Europe. Here he wrote his observations 




128 

on nature, and instructed the entire world in American 
plant life. His son William, while residing in this house, 
was elected professor of botany in the University of 
Pennsylvania in 1782. It was here that the Bartrams re- 




The Bartram House. 

ceived many illustrious visitors from \'arioiis parts of the 
world, and in this house Alexander Wilson was first 
inspired to study ornithology. 

Near the house is a great stone water tank, chiseled out 
by Bartram's own hand, and a long, low building, which 
answered Bartram's j)urpose for the storing of delicate 
plants during the winter. His greenhouses were dug in 
the hillside east of the barn, which was built in 1775. 
A second long building, still standing, was used as ser- 
vants' quarters. We are told by Hector St. John that 



129 

over the door of Bartram's greenhouse were written the 
following lines: 

" Slave to no sect, who takes no private road, 
But looks through nature up to nature's God." 

How John Bartram came to be a botanist is best told in 
his own words : 

" One day I was very busy in holding my plow (for thou 
seest I am but a plowman), and being weary, I ran under 
the shade of a tree to repose myself. I cast my eyes on a 
daisy, I plucked it mechanically, and viewed it with more 
curiosity than common country farmers are wont to do, 
and observed therein very many distinct parts, some per- 
pendicular, some horizontal. What a shame, said my 
mind, or something that inspired my mind, that thee 
shouldest have been employed so many years in tilling 
the earth, and destroying so many flowers and plants, 
without being acquainted with their structures and their 
uses! This seeming inspiration suddenly awakened my 
curiosity, for these were not thoughts to which I had been 
accustomed. I returned to my team, but this new desire 
did not quit my mind. I mentioned it to my wife, who 
greatly discouraged me from prosecuting my new scheme, 
as she called it. I was not opulent enough, she said, to 
dedicate much of my time to studies and labors which 
might rob us of that portion of it which is the only wealth 
of the American farmer. However, her prudent caution 
did not discourage me ; I tliought about it continually — at 
supper, in bed, and wherever I went. At last I could not 
resist the impulse, for on the fourth day of the following 
week I hired a man to plow for me, and went to Philadel- 

STO. OF PHIL. —9 



130 

phia. Though I knew not what book to call for, I ingenu- 
ously told the bookseller my errand, who provided me 
with such as he thought best, and a Latin grammar 
beside. Next I applied to a neighboring schoolmaster, 
who in three months taught me Latin enough to under- 
stand Linnaeus, which I purchased afterwards. Then I 
began to botanize all over my farm. In a little time I 
became acquainted with every vegetable which grew in 
my neighborhood, and next ventured into Maryland, liv- 
ing among the Friends. In proportion as I thought 
myself more learned, I proceeded farther, and by a steady 
application of several years I have acquired a pretty gen- 
eral knowledge of every plant and tree to be found on 
our continent. In process of time I was applied to from 
the old countries, whither I every year send many collec- 
tions. Being now made easy in my circumstances, I have 
ceased to labor, and am never so happy as when I see and 
converse with my friends." 

Bartram's great desire to be of use to his neighbors 
led him to compound simple vegetable remedies for 
their relief in cases of sickness. Some of his neighbors, 
however, thought him peculiar. They did not know 
that he was moved by a great passion and absorbed in a 
mighty theme. The strange notions he held about the 
creation of the world, the sexes of plants, the abolition 
of slaves, the irrigation of land, the drainage of mea- 
dows, etc., were regarded by them as fancies. When he 
quit his pick and plow and began the study of Latin, 
they were more firmly convinced than ever that he had 
" gone daft." Even his wife grew anxious, but he paid 
no heed. His neighbor James Logan, a very learned 



131 

man, early perceived Bartram's genius, and wrote to 
a friend in England : " Please to procure me Parkin- 
son's ' Herbal.' I shall make it a present to a person 
worthier of a heavier purse than fortune has yet allowed 
him. John Bartram has a genius perfectly well turned 
for botany. No man in these parts is so capable of serv- 
ing you, but none can worse bear the loss of his time 
without due consideration." By and by the neighbors 
began to view his labors in a different light. They signed 
a subscription that he might continue his travels three 
years through Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and 
New York. They said he was a ** person who had a 
propensity for Botanicks from his infancy; " that he was 
an " accurate observator," a man of '* great industry and 
temperance and of unquestioned veracity," and even called 
him a '' practical philosopher," and his science a " practi- 
cal one." 

One day there came a letter to Bartram from the gov- 
ernment agent, inviting him to accompany an Indian 
commission to Onondaga, New York. Availing himself 
of this opportunity, for it was dangerous at that time to 
travel without a guard, the Quaker naturalist mounted his 
gray mare and rode away like a knight of old. Arriving 
at Onondaga, he was "lustily entertained," and feasted 
on ''corn dumplings, venison, hominy, and wild beans." 
This was the first journey made by a scientist into the 
wilderness of North America. In 1751 Bartram gave to 
the world his " Observations made in his Travels from 
Pennsylvania to Onondaga, Oswego, and Lake Ontario." 
This was the first book of travels written by a native 
American. When Bartram went on his scientific journeys 



132 

he generally traveled alone. " Our Americans," he said, 
" have little taste for these amusements. I can't find one 
that will bear the fatigue to accompany me." When 
over sixty years of age he made a botanical journey 
to Florida. He ascended the St. Johns River for nearly 
four hundred miles to its source, making an accurate 
survey of both sides of the riVer, and charting its tribu- 
taries. The account of this his last journey was pub- 
lished in London, 1766, for the ''benefit of the new 
colony," and was highly valued both in England and 
America, 

The fame of Bartram as a naturalist is largely due to his 
associations with Peter Collinson, England's most famous 
botanist. When Collinson inquired of whom he could 
get specimens in America, he was told to ** get John Bar- 
tram ; nothing escapes him." A Philadelphia merchant 
introduced Bartram to ColHnson by letter when Bartram 
was thirty-five years of age. It was Collinson who first 
advised Bartram to collect seeds, roots, and plants, and 
ship them to England for the benefit of science, com- 
merce, and the useful arts. He encouraged him by mak- 
ing sale of his collections, and by securing purchasers for 
his specimens. He introduced Bartram, through letters, 
to the most noted men of science in Europe. He sent 
him botanical works, and succeeded in having him ap- 
pointed American botanist to the king of Great Britain at 
fifty pounds per annum and a horse. In all his observa- 
tions Bartram took great care to preserve rare specimens, 
and to forward them with long and interesting letters to 
his friend. Collinson could enjoy any product of nature 
which Bartram could send except snakes, of which he 



133 

had great horror, while Bartram would ship anything 
Collinson would request except an opossum, which made 
him sick to look at. Bartram and Collinson remained firm 
friends for nearly fifty years, during which time they 
never saw each other, but were mutually proud of any 
contribution the other might make to science. 

Great and wise men of every country have shown their 
appreciation of John Bartram and his labors. Peter Col- 
linson, who owned the finest botanical garden in London, 
wrote Dr. Colden : "I am persuaded you would have 
been pleased with him. You would ha\^e found him a 
wonderful natural genius, considering his education, and 
that he was never out of America, but is an husband- 
man. . . . His observation and accounts of all natural 
productions that happened in his way (and I believe few 
escape him) are much esteemed for their accuracy." 
After Dr. Colden made the acquaintance of Bartram, he 
wrote to Peter Collinson : '' I had the pleasure of see- 
ing Mr. Bartram at my house this summer. It is really 
surprising what knowledge that man has obtained merely 
by the force of industry and his own genius. He has a 
lively fancy and a surprising memory, and an indefatigable 
disposition." Hans Sloane, a physician and naturalist, 
who succeeded Newton as president of the Royal Society, 
sent Bartram a silver cup inscribed : 

'' The Gift of S' Hans Sloane Bar^ 
To his Fr<? John Bartram 
Anno 1742 " 

Later he was awarded a gold medal weighing four hun- 
dred and eighty-seven grains, bearing the inscription, " To 



134 

Mr. John Bartram, from a society of gentlemen at Edin- 
burgh, 1772; " and on the reverse side '' Mereriti " in a 
wreath. 

As the British soldiers were approaching Philadelphia 
from the battlefield of Brandywine, John Bartram greatly 
feared they would destroy his ** beloved garden," the 
work of a lifetime. He became very much excited, and 
said, " I want to die ! " and expired half an hour later, Sep- 
tember 22, 1777. His remains lie buried in the Friends' 
burying ground, Darby. Upon his death he left his 
family the following precept for their moral guidance : 
" Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before God." 

Philadelphia is indebted to Mr. Thomas Meehan, a 
well-known botanist of the city, and a member of the 
common council, for the valuable information he has given 
regarding Bartram's garden. He was among the first to 
awaken an interest in the minds of the citizens of Phila- 
delphia in respect to the value of the garden. In 1853 
Mr. Meehan published a " Handbook of Ornamental 
Trees" contained in this garden. When he became a 
member of the common council in 1882 he was foremost 
among those who favored establishing small parks for the 
city's health and adornment, and Bartram's garden was 
included in the list. In the year 1891 the city authori- 
ties assumed control of the property ; they employed a 
care-taker, marked the trees and shrubbery, thus pre- 
serving it for public use. Posterity will owe a debt of 
gratitude to those who have endeavored to perpetuate the 
memory of Bartram and to preserve the remains of his 
garden, and Philadelphia may well feel honored in having 
been the home of so distinguished a naturalist. 



135 



DAVID RITTENHOUSE. 



AMONG the great men who were an honor to Philadel- 
/\ phia in colonial days David Rittenhouse was one of 
the most distinguished. He was born on the banks of 
the beautiful Wissahickon, near Germantown, Philadelphia, 

April 8, 1732, and was 

descended from an illus- 
trious and prosperous 
family, famous in art, lit- 
erature, and industry. 
William Rittenhouse, the 
great-grandfather of Da- 
vid Rittenhouse, was the 
first Mennonite preacher 
in Pennsylvania, and 
settled in Germantown. 
He built, on a tributary 
of the Wissahickon, the 
first paper mill in this 
country, and supplied 
William Bradford, the first printer in Philadelphia, with 
a superior quality of linen and parchment paper. 

William Rittenhouse taught all his children the art of 
paper making, and the art was handed down to his grand- 
son, Matthias, the father of David Rittenhouse. For a 
time Matthias followed the occupation of his father, but 
later he bought a farm in Norriton township, Montgomery 
County, upon which he settled when David, his eldest son, 
was about three years of age. 




David Rittenhouse. 



136 

As a child, David found a playground in the meadow 
near his father's house, and his amusements were noted for 
their inventive and practical character. At the age of eight 
he built a water wheel and mill in miniature, and placed 
them in the stream that ran through the meadow. This re- 
volving wheel suggested to him the ineastire of time, and 




House in which Rittenhouse was Born. 



he imagined what might be accomplished with a more 
perfect wheel moving in exact time. At the age of twelve 
an incident occurred which greatly aided in the formation 
of his character and the development of his genius. His 
mother had a brother, a cabinetmaker by trade, a young 
man of marked skill in mechanical art, and also somewhat 
of a philosopher and astronomer. Dying at an early age. 



137 

he left to his nephew David his implements, a few books 
on elementary arithmetic and geometry, and some mathe- 
matical calculations in manuscript, together with a few 
drawings in astronomy. These were of great value to 
David, who in after life spoke of them as" priceless treas- 
ures." At the age of fourteen we find him plodding 
behind his father's plow, supplied with a piece of chalk, 
with which, when resting at the turns, he would draw 







"The fences and barn doors were his blackboards." 



queer figures on the moldboard and beam ; the fences 
and barn doors were his blackboards for demonstrating 
mathematical problems. It is said that he pointed sticks 
at the stars at night, and watched the sun as it moved 
over the azure arch by day; and thus he tried to learn 
the secret of their relations to other heavenly bodies. He 
was studying the first principles of astronomy. 



138 

These observations led him to conclude that time was 
the important factor in astronomy, and that the exact 
measure of time requires a perfect chronometer. At 
the age of seventeen he constructed a wooden clock, and 
then a metal one. He then became anxious to learn the 
trade of a clock and mathematical instrument maker. He 
persuaded his father to aid him in building a workshop 
and securing a stock of tools, and in 1751 David Ritten- 
house set up as a clock and instrument maker in a small 
workshop along the roadside, near his home at Norriton. 
But the making of clocks was secondary to the great 
problem he had set himself to solve. Natural philosophy 
was a hobby with him, and to become an astronomer 
was the goal of his ambition. From the age of eighteen 
years to the age of twenty-five he labored unceasingly, 
spending his days at his trade and his nights in study. He 
read several works on mathematics and physical science, 
mastered an English translation of Newton's ** Principia," 
and devoted himself to the study of optics. This intense 
application greatly injured his health, and he never fully 
recovered. It was during this period that he believed 
himself to be the original discoverer of the method of 
fluxions, unaware that Newton and Leibnitz were contend- 
ing for that honor. His friend Dr. Rush exclaimed in 
admiration : " What a mind is here ! Without literary 
friends or society, and with but two or three books, he 
became, before he reached his four and twentieth year, 
the rival of two of the greatest mathematicians in Europe." 

In the year 1751, when David was nineteen years of 
age, he formed the acquaintance of a young school-teacher, 
Thomas Barton, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. 



139 

This acquaintance ripened into a friendship, which lasted 
throughout their lives. A tender attachment on the 
part of Barton for David's sister Esther, whom he after- 
wards married, made him a frequent visitor to the family 
circle. Through the influence of Barton, Rittenhouse 
was supplied with Latin and Greek books, in which lan- 
guages he soon became proficient ; and subsequently he 
mastered the German language, and read and spoke French 
fluently. When Rittenhouse was twenty-one years of age 
Barton gave him scientific works which he had recently 
brought from Europe, and these greatly aided in develop- 
ing his natural talent for scientific pursuits. 

During all this time Rittenhouse strove to perfect his 
skill as an instrument maker. While Galileo had used the 
pendulum as a measure of time, and Christian Huygens had 
applied it to the clock, it was Rittenhouse who discovered 
that the period of an oscillation of the pendulum varies 
with the temperature. To remedy these variations, and 
to secure a more accurate timekeeper, he devised a 
compensating medium, which consisted of a glass tube 
partly filled with alcohol and mercury, somewhat like a 
thermometer. This device was of inestimable value to 
science, and the first clock thus constructed by David 
Rittenhouse is now in the hall of the American Philo- 
sophical Society, Philadelphia. 

The year 1 76*9 was memorable in the annals of astron- 
omy, owing to the transit of Venus over the sun's disk, 
which occurred June 3. Astronomers throughout the 
entire world were anxious to make an observation of this 
celestial phenomenon, which would not again occur until the 
year 1874. The great interest centered in this observa- 



140 

tion arose from the fact that by means of it the distance 
between the hea\enly bodies could be more accurately 
calculated. Rittenhouse, in this observation, used a tele- 
scope and other instruments made by his own hands. 
On the morning of the 3d the sky was cloudless. Wlien 
he observed the contact, and the planet had fairly entered 
upon the sun's disk, his emotions so overpowered him 
that he sank fainting to the ground, unable to bear the 
intense feelings of delight which attended the consumma- 
tion of the long-hoped-for o\ent. Rising from his ex- 
haustion, he proceeded to measure the distance between 
the centers of the two bodies at stated intervals during 
the transit. 

The obser\'ations of Rittenhouse were received with 
interest by scientific men everywhere. Subsequently they 
were found to be nearly accurate, and his computations 
placed him among the greatest of astronomers. The 
royal astronomer of England bore testimony to their 
value, and another high authority said: "The first ap- 
proximately accurate results in the measurements of the 
spheres were given to the world, not by the schooled and 
salaried astronomers who watched from the magnificent 
ro}-al observatories of Europe, but by unpaid amateurs 
and devotees to science in the youthful province of Penn- 
sylvania." On the 9th of November in the same year he 
made an observation of the transit of Mercury, which 
was the fourth ever witnessed. About this time he deter- 
mined the difiference between the meridians of Norriton 
and Philadelphia. 

David Rittenhouse was, without doubt, the first inventor 
of a practical planetarium, erroneously called the " orrery," 



141 

an instrument so constructed and designed as to exhibit 
the movements of the jjlanets around the sun, and of 
satelHtes around their primaries. In theory the idea was 
not new, as Cicero gives an account of one made by Archi- 
medes, but which was useless, as it was adapted to the Ptole- 
maic system. Acting on the suggestion of Dr. Hales, a Mr. 
Rowley had made a planetarium for the Earl of Orrery 
in 1715, and the instrument was named for the owner. 
This was, however, a mere toy, and gave the movements 
of only two heavenly bodies. Rittenhouse determined 
that he would make an elaborate instrument, based on 
scientific principles and on the astronomical calculations 
which he had prepared. vXfter three years of labor, in i 770 
the " Rittenhouse orrery " was completed. This orrery 
was partially bargained for by the College of Philadel- 
phia, but before the sale was completed Princeton College 
bought it for three hundred pounds. The trustees of the 
College of Philadelphia were offended, but Rittenhouse 
immediately set to work to construct them another. 
"This," he said, " I am not sorry for; since the making of 
a second will be but an amusement, compared with the 
first : And who knows, but that the rest of the colonies may 
catch the contagion." To pay for this orrery Dr. Smith, 
provost of the College of Philadelphia, delivered a course 
of lectures on astronomy. The second orrery was much 
larger than the first, but was constructed on the same 
model. The College of Philadelphia purchased it for four 
hundred pounds. 

Rittenhouse had a genius for mechanical construction. 
Whenever a theory or principle was advanced, his mind 
would at once seize upon it, and practically demonstrate 



142 

it by mechanical or mathematical appliances. He brought 
chronometers to such accuracy that his work is sought 
after to this day. He invented the first hygrometer in 
America in 1782. He experimented upon and proved the 
compressibility and elasticity of water, and in 1767 made 
a metal thermometer with a graduated flat face, and an 
index recording the degrees. Whenever he had an idle 
hour he amused himself by solving mathematical prob- 
lems. When State treasurer at York he made calcula- 
tions for an ephemeris called '* Father Abraham's Pocket 
Almanack for the Year MDCCLXXVHI." He also made 
the annual astronomical calculations for the almanacs 
printed in Pennsylvania and other places. 

Rittenhouse was now in the prime of life. By his abil- 
ity and zeal he had acquired a distinction which could not 
pass unnoticed in political circles. At an early date he 
was employed by the Penn family to determine the 
'* circle drawn twelve miles distance from New Castle, 
northward and westward, unto the beginning of the for- 
tieth degree of north latitude." The Penns were pleased 
with his work, and paid him liberally. For over eighty 
years this line had been contested in the courts of England 
and in the colonies. Later, when the official commissioners, 
Mason and Dixon, completed the survey they commented 
upon the good work done by Rittenhouse. In 1769 he 
was employed by the government to settle the boundary 
between New York and New Jersey. In the following year 
he moved to Philadelphia, and built an observatory. Here 
he made an observation of the '* comet of 1 770," the results 
of which he gave to the American Pliilosophical Society, 
together with the results of his experiments made on the 



143 

gymnotus, or electric eel. In 1772 he was engaged to 
survey and ascertain the level of the lands between the 
Susquehanna and Delaware rivers. In the following year, 
1773, he was appointed chief of a commission to make the 
Schuylkill River navigable, and was twice reappointed. 
On October 24, 1774, he was appointed a commissioner 
from Pennsylvania to adjust the boundary line between 
New York and Pennsylvania. This work remained un- 
finished until after the war, when the governor of Penn- 
sylvania, in 1785-86, authorized him to complete it. In 
March, 1775, he was appointed to take charge of the 
Statehouse clock, and there is no doubt that he regulated 
this timepiece throughout the Revolutionary period. In 
1785 he was called upon to adjust the boundary line be- 
tween Massachusetts and New York. Of this survey Dr. 
Rush says : '* This last business, which was executed with 
his usual precision and integrity, was his farewell peace 
offering to the union and happiness of his country." 

When the war broke out, among the first to respond 
was David Rittenhouse. He was sent to take levels and 
select points best adapted for fortifications on the Dela- 
ware, and also to blockade the river with a chain. The 
Committee of Safety appointed him engineer to choose 
a site for the Coatinental powder mill, and to superin- 
tend the manufacture of saltpeter. He was authorized to 
arrange for the casting of cannon and to experiment on 
the rifling of the same. He was ordered to make iron 
clock weights and exchange them for leaden ones, with 
which to mold bullets for the use of the army. He was 
instructed to locate a magazine for military stores on the 
Wissahickon. Early in 1776 he was elected a member 



144 

of the Committee of Safety, and in August he became 
its vice president, and in November of the same year 
was elected its presiding officer. As president of that 
body, he issued circulars full of patriotism, in one of 
which he said : " We therefore entreat you by the most 
sacred of all bonds, the love of virtue, of liberty, of your 
country, to forget every distinction, and unite as one man 
in this time of extreme danger. Let us defend ourselves 
like men determined to be free." 

In March, 1776, he was elected a member of the As- 
sembly from Philadelphia, and later he became a member 
of the convention that met July 15, 1776, to frame the 
first constitution of the State of Pennsylvania. He served 
on many important committees, and was a member of the 
Board of War for the State. On January 14, 1777, he was 
unanimously elected the first State treasurer of Pennsyl- 
vania, to which office he was annually elected for twelve 
years. On October 13, 1777, the Council of Safety was 
formed, and he was elected one of its members. 

In 1779 Rittenhouse was appointed the first professor 
of astronomy in the University of Pennsylvania, which 
position he held until 1782. In 1780 he was appointed 
trustee of the loan office, in addition to the State treas- 
urer's office, which position he filled for ten years. 

When the disputes between Pennsylvania and Virginia 
arose regarding the boundary line, and the settlers came 
to blows, and war was threatened, David Rittenhouse was 
appomted one of three commissioners from Pennsylvania 
to adjust the line. After erecting an observatory at Wil- 
mington, and while waiting for the Virginia committee, he 
made some sixty observations of eclipses of the moons of 



145 

Jupiter. The Virginia survey was duly ratified by the 
General Assembly in November, 1779, and was one of 
the most important ever undertaken by him ; and his skill 
permanently settled, in 1 784, what might have been a 
serious misunderstanding between two powerful States. 

The first appointment David Rittenhouse held under the 
Federal Constitution was that of a commissioner to organ- 
ize the Bank of the United States and receive subscrip- 
tions for it. Upon the establishment of a mint at 
Philadelphia, Washington appointed him its first director 
April 14, 1792. He accepted this position only at the 
earnest solicitation of Jefferson and Hamilton. Owing to 
his knowledge of delicate machinery, as well as of coin, 
he was preeminently qualified for the duties of the office. 

For years David Rittenhouse was an active member of 
the American Philosophical Society. In 1771 he was 
elected one of the secretaries of the society, and in 1790 
he became one of its vice presidents. On the death of Dr. 
Franklin he succeeded to the office of president, January, 
1 79 1, which office he held until his death, when he was 
succeeded by Thomas Jefferson. From 1780 to 1796 he 
contributed to the society for publication nearly a score of 
papers on scientific subjects. The most elaborate of all 
these papers was *' An Oration on Astronomy "delivered 
before the society February 24, 1775. This paper was 
inscribed and dedicated to the delegates assembled in Con- 
gress from all the thirteen colonies. 

Although denied in youth the advantages of a collegiate 
education, Rittenhouse's discoveries and inventions earned 
for him honorary degrees from the leading institutions of 
England and America. In 1767 the College of Philadel- 

STO. OF PHU.. — 10 



■ 46 

phia hostowoci upon him tho honorar\- dci^roc of Master of 
Arts. In 177- ^^<-' ^^'^^^ honored with tho doL^roo oi M.A. 
from Princoion CoHolio. and in i ;8o ho roooivod tho doL^ree 
of l.I.P. from tho same institntion. In i 78J the Acad- 
eniy of Arts and Seienees oi Boston eleoted him a fellow- 
member. In 1 7S4 the ColleL^e of W'illivim and Mar\- L;a\e 
him the honorary decree o\ M.A. In 1705 tho Ro\'al 
Soeiety oi London elected him a member oi that distin- 
i^uished bodw 

In personal appearance. Oaxid Rittenhonse was tall, 
slender, and acti\ e. with a beniL^ii and inielliL^ent connte- 
nance. I lis gentle disposition and modest manners secured 
him tirm friends. There was in his nature a touch of the 
poet and artist. He was in close synipath)' with the woes 
of mankind, and in respect to their sufferings he was as 
tender as a child. Me was opposed to capital punishment, 
which he called " judicial murder," and was active in se- 
curing the rights, liberi)-. and happiness of the American 
people. To do good silently, and to be useful to the 
communit}- and public, seem to have been his object in 
life. As he sank to his final rest. Sunday. June 26, 1796, 
he thanked the ph\-sician for his care, and in repl\- to the 
question if he felt comfortable, answered: "Yes; you 
have made the way to God easier." His remains were 
deposited in a tomb on his own grounds, at the corner of 
Seventh and Arch streets. Subsequenth' the\- were re- 
moved to the old Pine Street Presbyterian churchyard, 
and on Januaiy 18. 187S, the\' \\ere removed to North 
Laurel Hill Cemeterv. 



147 




CARPENTERS' HALE. 



CARPEXT1-:RS' HAEE, a building located in the 
rear of the south side of Chestnut Street, between 
Third and Eourth streets, Philadelphia, is famous as the 
meeting place of the first Continental Congress, and as 
such is dear to the hearts of the American people. 

Carpenters' Hall was erected and owned by the Car- 
penters' Company, an organization of master carpenters, 
instituted in i 724. Their object was to erect a building 
where instruction might be obtained in the science of 
architecture, and to assist such of the members as should 



148 

be in need of support, and the widows and minor chil- 
dren of such members. It was also their intention to 
found a library for the use of the society. In 1734 James 
Porteus bequeathed his collection of books to them, and 
the first book for the library was purchased in 1736. In 
1752 another company having a similar object applied for 
admission. In i j6i the erection of a hall was taken into 
consideration, and a committee appointed to choose a site. 
Five years later a lot was selected on Chestnut Street, 
between Third and Fourth streets, which lot was pur- 
chased on a ground rent deed, requiring an annual pay- 
ment of one hundred and seventy-six Spanish dollars. 
The company sold off a portion of the front, reserving an 
entrance called Carpenters' Court, and in January, 1770, 
the erection of Carpenters' Hall began. In this same year 
the " Friendship Carpenters' Company " requested per- 
mission to join the original company. The following 
year (1771) Carpenters' Hall was occupied, although it 
remained unfinished until 1792. The Philadelphia Li- 
brary Company removed their library in 1773 from the 
Statehouse to Carpenters' Hall, where it remained seven- 
teen years. Here also a conference of deputies from the 
several counties in the province met July 15, 1774, to 
elect delegates to attend the general Congress. On Sep- 
tember 5 of the same year, that noted body of men known 
as the first Continental Congress convened, and ** Within 
these walls Henry, Hancock, and Adams inspired the 
delegates of the colonies with nerve and sinew for the 
toils of war resulting in National Independence." 

The Pennsylvania " Committee of Correspondence " had 
their headquarters here for some time. This body of men 



149 

aided greatly in securing the independence of America. 
The Committee on American Manufactures also had their 
headquarters in Carpenters' Hall. In 1776 the Provincial 
Assembly called a convention, which met in this building 
to form a new government which should derive its power 
directly from the people. When the Revolutionary War 
broke out, the basement of the hall was used as a maga- 
zine for ammunition by the American army, and the first 
floor was used as a storehouse and office. When in 1777 
the British troops took possession of Philadelphia they 
used the lower part of the hall for the same purpose, and 
the library and upper part as a hospital, and hither were 
brought many of the wounded from the battle of German- 
town. After the evacuation of the city by the British 
in 1778, the Carpenters' Company again recovered pos- 
session of their property, and part of the building was 
occupied by the United States barrack master. In 1779 
General Henry Knox, commissary general of the army, 
made it his headquarters for army supplies. 

The first Bank of the United States occupied the entire 
hall from 1791 to 1797. In 1792 the Carpenters' Com- 
pany was incorporated by the State of Pennsylvania, 
under the title of the " Carpenters' Company of the City 
and County of Philadelphia." In 1794 there was an ap- 
propriation of two hundred dollars made for the library, 
in 1798 an appropriation of one hundred and fifty dollars, 
and the following year an appropriation of four hundred 
dollars. Here for the next two years the land office of the 
United States and the office of the purveyor of supplies 
for the army were stationed. 

In 1 798 the Bank of Pennsylvania was opened in this 



ISO 

building, until its new building in Second Street, above Wal- 
nut, could be completed. Short as was its stay, this bank 
was robbed of $162,82 1.6 1 in the month of August, 1798. 
There was no direct evidence as to who the criminal was, 
but suspicion fell upon Pat Lyon, who had been employed 
to repair the locks sixteen months previous, and again im- 
mediately preceding the robbery, at which time he warned 
the officials that the locks were insufficient for protection. 
At this time the yellow fever raged throughout the city. 
Lyon and his little apprentice boy resolved to go to 
Lewes, Delaware, where the boy sickened and died of the 
fever, which he had contracted in Philadelphia. It was on 
the very night that the boy lay dying, and while Patrick 
was nursing him, that the Bank of Pennsylvania at Car- 
penters' Hall was robbed. It was not until September, 
however, that Lyon heard of the robbery, and he also 
learned that he was the one suspected, upon which he 
determined to return to Philadelphia and meet his accusers. 
Owing to the quarantine laws, he could not come by 
boat, so he walked all the way, and on his arrival in 
Philadelphia went immediately to one of the directors of 
the bank, John Clement Stocker, and said that he had 
come to meet his accusers, and that he w^ould call again 
the following day. At the appointed time he appeared 
and met the president, the cashier, and the mayor. Lyon 
gave them a minute account of his absence, and the cause 
of it ; but they would not believe him, and made out a 
warrant, and committed him to Walnut Street prison in 
default of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars' bail. 
He remained in jail thirteen weeks, with no bed to sleep 
upon, and exposed to the yellow fever then raging among 



151 

the prisoners. At the end of two months the real culprits 
were discovered, and nearly the whole of the money was 
recovered from one Isaac Davis, who was associated in 
the robbery with Thomas Cunningham, porter of the bank. 
Cunningham divided the plunder with Davis the day after 
the robbery, but in less than a week's time Cunningham was 
taken ill with the fever and died. Davis, on being arrested, 
was made to yield up what he had, $158,779.53 in gold 
and bank notes, with an assignment of his property, val- 
ued at about eight hundred dollars. It was, naturally, 
supposed that the officers would now hasten to release 
Lyon. On the contrary, they held him as an accomplice ; 
but he succeeded in having his bail reduced from one 
hundred and fifty thousand dollars to two thousand 
dollars, upon the entry of which he was discharged. 
When the case was brought up for trial, January, 1799, 
the grand jury ignored the indictment against him. Lyon 
then brought suit for false imprisonment, and in 1805 was 
awarded twelve thousand dollars damages. Motion for a 
new trial was granted, but before the trial began Lyon was 
tendered nine thousand dollars as a compromise, which he 
accepted. 

After the Bank of Pennsylvania was removed to Second 
and Walnut streets, the United States government used 
Carpenters' Hall for many years as a customhouse. From 
181 7 the second Bank of the United States took posses- 
sion of the hall, and occupied it for nearly five years. In 
1 82 I the Musical Fund Society met here, and continued to 
meet thus for four years. The Apprentices' Library Com- 
pany had its quarters on the second floor for over seven 
years, and the Franklin Institute for sixteen months. In 



152 



1823 Johnny Willets began to teach school in a room of 
this building. He was remembered by his boys and girls 
after they became aged men and women, and the story 

of how he taught 
and governed them 
was repeated over 
and over to their 
children and chil- 
dren's children. 

In 1827 the 
Friends, under Elias 
Hicks, held meet- 
ing at Carpenters' 
Hall until their new 
meetinghouse, on 
Cherry near Fifth 
Street, was com- 
pleted. After this 
the auctioneer took 
possession of part of 
the building, and sold to the highest bidder sundries no 
longer needed by the owners. In 1833 the sessions of the 
Supreme Court were held here. In 1835 the entire build- 
ing became an auction room, and remained so until the 
Carpenters' Company again took possession. In 1859 the 
city offered to buy the property of the Carpenters' Com- 
pany, who declined to sell and still own the hall. 

Carpenters' Hall stands to-day where it stood over a 
century ago, and since its restoration appears to the visitor 
as it appeared to our forefathers in the " days that tried 
men's souls." It is one of the most famous buildings in 




Carpenters' Hall. 



153 

this country, and on account of the stirring events that 
took place within its walls it stands as a shrine of patri- 
otic associations. In it may be seen many sacred relics 
of the struggle for freedom. Here are the Federal 
armchairs used by the first Continental Congress. Here 
is displayed the satin banner that headed the Federal So- 
ciety in the procession of 1788, and again in 1832 on the 
centennial anniversary of the birthday of Washington. 
The upper part of the building has a library of sixty-five 
hundred volumes, and meeting rooms and apartments for 
the committee in charge. There are also many docu- 
ments and pamphlets not included in the library which are 
of great historic interest. In this building may be seen the 
original leather fire buckets of Franklin's time. During 
the Centennial Exposition of 1876, seventy-two thousand 
persons registered their names in fifteen large books ; but 
so great was the number of visitors that it is said not one 
in ten had the opportunity to record his name. 

THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 

THE most illustrious body of men ever assembled in 
Philadelphia was the first Continental Congress, 
which met at Carpenters' Hall, September 5, 1774. 
These men represented the thirteen colonies, and had 
come together to consider by what authority they were 
governed. They were almost strangers to one another, 
and on many subjects held dissimilar views. On one sub- 
ject, however, they were united in sentiment : they were 
resolved that no king or parliament had a right to tax and 



154 

govern the colonists without the consent of the governed. 
This right of the individual in his relation to government 
was the most momentous question ever considered by any 
body of men in any nation, and the principles of govern- 
ment which this Congress advocated led to the founding 
of a free and independent nation, the United States of 
America. 

We must remember that a little over a century ago 
there was no United States, and there were no United 
Colonies. Each colony had its own laws and was governed 
by an of^cial sent from England. All of the colonies were 
more or less under obligations in their charters to British 
authority. At first the Americans were poor, and the 
King of Great Britain left them alone ; but as they grew in 
wealth and population the British government attempted 
to levy taxes, enroll soldiers, and control the trade and 
make the laws for the colonists. The king sent over gov- 
ernors and judges to enforce these laws, though the Amer- 
icans were to have no voice in making them. These acts 
of despotism on the part of the mother country aroused a 
general spirit of resistance. A common feeling and inter- 
est led the colonies to unite in opposition to this oppres- 
sion by the British crown. Then a Philadelphian proposed 
that annually, or as often as occasion might require, the 
colonies should send deputies to form a court, like that of 
the Amphictyons, who managed the general affairs of the 
Athenians. This " Proposal for the Good of the Col- 
onies " was published in the " Boston Gazette," March 15, 
1773. The Committees of National Correspondence in 
each colonial assembly favored the suggestion and took im- 
mediate action to extend these views and adopt a feasible 



155 

plan to redress their grievances. But this proposal was 
received with contempt by the British Parliament, who 
proceeded to lay a tax and enforce its collection. In 
May, 1774, Paul Revere came to Philadelphia from Bos- 
ton, telling the people of the blockade of the Boston 
harbor by the British Port Act, which was to take effect 
June I, and requesting the citizens of Philadelphia to 
give advice as to how they should act. A meeting was 
called at the City Tavern, on Second Street above Walnut, 
where some three hundred citizens hastily assembled, and 
the subject was warmly discussed by John Dickinson, 
Joseph Reed, and Charles Thomson. Expressions of 
sympathy were tendered, and aid offered if needed. The 
people of Boston were advised by the citizens of Philadel- 
phia to maintain their rights, as " it is not the value of the 
tax, but tlie indefeasible right of giving and granting onr 
ozun money, a right front ivJiicJi zee ean never receded 
Other States offered their aid and sympathy, encouraged 
the people of Boston in their opposition, and advised that 
a Congress be called to consider the status of the colonies, 
and to determine what action should be taken to defend 
their rights against encroachment by the British crown. 
The more determined the king was to subvert the con- 
stitutional rights of the Americans, founded upon the 
Magna Charta, the more closely united the colonists be- 
came in their resistance to arbitrary measures. 

On the 15th of July, the delegates from the several 
counties in Pennsylvania assembled in Carpenters' Hall, 
and agreed '* to adopt and carry into execution such gen- 
eral plan as shall be agreed to in Congress; " and on July 
22 the Assembly appointed delegates to a general Con- 



156 

gress. As early as June 7, i 774, the colony of New York 
asked John Adams when and where this general Congress 
should be held. The Massachusetts colony, through John 
Adams, suggested September I, 1774, as the time, and 
Philadelphia as the place of meeting. Assurances came 
from all the sister colonies that the arrangement was satis- 
factory. Within a period of sixt}'-four days twelv^e of the 
thirteen colonies declared for a general Congress, and fifty- 
five delegates were appointed. These men represented two 
million two hundred thousand inhabitants, paying eighty 
thousand pounds annually as revenue to the British gov- 
ernment. Georgia, the only colony which was not repre- 
sented, sent a message that she would concur in " the 
eflfort to maintain their right to the British constitution," 
by which she meant *' a constitution founded on reason and 
the indelible rights of mankind." Each colony selected 
its most prominent men to defend its rights and liberties, 
with life and fortune if need be. 

The fifty-five men selected from twelve colonies to 
meet in this general Congress were men of culture and 
scholarly attainments. New England sent men noted 
for their intense hatred of oppression and for their ardent 
love of liberty. The Middle States sent men of wealth, 
learning, and conservatism. The Southern States sent 
men of eloquence, military genius, and a knowledge of 
statesmanship. Although strangers to one another, a few 
of them had already acquired a national reputation. 
Among these were George Washington, known through 
his military career with General Braddock ; Patrick Henry, 
renowned for his bold warning to George III., in his attack 
on the validity of the Stamp Act in the Virginia House of 



157 

Burgesses, May, 1765, and the Adamses, distinguished as 
leaders of the opposition to British tyranny in Massachu- 
setts. The Pennsylvania delegates to this Congress were 
Joseph Galloway, Samuel Rhoades, Thomas Mifflin, Charles 
Humphreys, John Mfjrton, George Ross, and Edward 
Biddle. 

Congress met in Carpenters' Hall on the morning of 
September 5, i 774, with forty-four delegates present. On 
motion of Mr. Lynch, Peyton Randolph of Virginia was 
unanimously chosen president. Although not a member of 
Congress, Charles Thomson of Philadelphia, " a gentleman 
of family, fortune, and character," was appointed secretary. 
The commissions of the delegates from the various colonies 
were then read. The first day was spent in approving 
these credentials, in determining how they should vote, and 
in appointing necessary committees; and this work was 
renewed the next day. Thomas Gushing of Massachu- 
setts proposed to open the ensuing sessions with prayer ; 
but owing to the wide diversity of religious opinions, it 
was opposed by some of the members. Samuel Adams 
then arose, and said : " I am no bigot, and can hear a 
prayer from any man of piety and virtue who is a friend 
to his country." He therefore moved that the Rev. Mr. 
Duche, an Episcopal clergyman, be requested to read 
prayers the following morning. On the evening of Sep- 
tember 6, Paul Revere reached Philadelphia, bringing 
with him the news that the British ships were investing 
Boston. The utmost confusion and excitement prevailed. 
War was the cry. Congress was greatly agitated, and 
every member wondered what it was best to do on the 
morrow. 



158 

On the morning of September 7, 1774, the Rev. Mr. 
Duche appeared, and read several prayers and the Thirty- 
fifth Psalm, which begins, " Plead Thou my cause, O Lord, 
with them that strive with me, and fight Thou against them 
that fight against me. Lay hand upon the shield and 



1 




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1 


I^^^^SH 






p 




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1 



The Opening Service, September 7, 1774. 

buckler, and stand up to help me." John Adams said : " I 
never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed 
as if Heaven had ordained that psalm to be read on that 
morning." Then the Rev. Mr. Duche " unexpectedly to 
anybody struck out into an extemporary prayer for Amer- 
ica, for the congress, for Massachusetts, and especially for 
Boston, which was so fervent that it filled the bosom of 
every man present." 

In opening Congress Joseph Duane of New York asked 



159 

that a committee be appointed to prepare rules and regu- 
lations for governing that body. His object was to devise 
a method for voting, whether by colonies, poll, or property 
interest ; and this action would establish a precedent for 
future congresses. Patrick Henry, favoring the committee, 
replied : " Government is dissolved ; fleets and armies and 
the present state of things show that government is dis- 
solved. Where are your landmarks, your boundaries? 
We are in a state of nature, sir. ... I will submit, 
however; I am determined to submit if I am overruled. 
I hope that future ages will quote our proceedings with 
applause. It is one of the great duties of the democratic 
part of our constitution to keep itself pure. The distinc- 
tions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, 
and New Englanders are no more. / am not a Vir- 
ginian, but an American .'' Many members believed that a 
small colony having its all at stake was entitled to an equal 
representation with a larger one. Some thought that the 
holding of property should be taken into consideration in 
voting; others held that a man without property was as 
capable of exercising the right of franchise, and as justly 
entitled to vote, as the rich. There were those who said 
that Congress had no legal authority to act or to make 
laws ; that they could only suggest what ought to be 
done, and the people would honor their suggestions, or 
else protest against them by ballot. It was finally deter- 
mined, as they were unable to ascertain the number and 
wealth of the population, that they would vote by col- 
onies, each colony being entitled to one vote. To this 
Patrick Henry agreed, but maintained that colonial gov- 
ernment was at an end, and that all Americans were one. 



i6o 

The action of this Congress was deHberate and cautious. 
They discussed momentous issues with dignity, firmness, 
and wisdom. They executed the measures intrusted to 
them by a confiding people in a peaceful and masterly 
manner. They had no doubt as to their rights, and 
they boldly declared them. A union of the colonies was 
essential to maintain these rights, and they proposed the 
union in a Declaration of Rights. They declared that 
the exclusive right to levy taxes resided with the people in 
their colonial assemblies. For many years previous the 
British Parliament had regulated trade and monopolized 
the profits, but this Congress declared that Great Britain 
had no such right. The Declaration of Rights, which they 
drafted, consisted o*f ten resolves as to what was legally 
due the colonists. Accompanying this was a statement 
of their grievances which they sent to the king. They 
also resolved to enter into an association, called the Amer- 
ican Association, in which they agreed that they would not 
import, export, or consume British goods until their just 
demands were complied with. They recommended home 
manufacture, and they determined that they would save 
their sheep and wool, and would have no commercial in- 
tercourse with Great Britain until the obnoxious acts were 
repealed. The covenant was in the following words : 
" We do for ourselves, and the inhabitants of the several 
colonies whom we represent, firmly agree and associate 
under the sacred ties of virtue, honor, and love of our 
country." Fifty- two members of Congress signed this 
Nonimportation Act, and they declared that those who 
violated the rules of the association might be *' univer- 
sally condemned as the enemies of American liberty." 



i6i 

These articles of association were virtually a league of all 
the colonies, and the most practical outcome of the first 
Continental Congress. *' They may be considered," says 
Hildreth, "the commencement of the American Union." 

Congress ordered that three addresses be prepared 
on the subject of American rights and grievances. The 
first was prepared by John Jay, and was addressed to the 
British people as " Friends and Fellow-Subjects." The 
object of this address was to show that the American 
people had been abused and misrepresented, and that 
they desired no independence, but that their greatest 
glory would be to live in harmony with the English 
people under English law. The second paper was pre- 
pared by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, and was ad- 
dressed to the colonists, in which he showed that the 
Declaration of Rights was based on wisdom and justice, 
and recommended the cause to the judgment of mankind, 
and commended them to the protection of Providence. 
He wrote : '* Above all things we earnestly entreat you, 
with devotion of spirit, penitence of heart, and amend- 
ment of life, to humble yourselves, and implore the power 
of Almighty God ; and we humbly beseech his Divine 
Goodness to take you into his gracious protection." 

An address to the inhabitants of the province of Que- 
bec was prepared by John Dickinson of Philadelphia. It 
claimed that they were ** the only link wanting to com- 
plete the bright and strong chain of Union," and urged 
them to rest their fate, '* not on the small influence of 
their single province, but on the consolidated power of 
North America." Letters were sent to the ''unrepre- 
sented colonies of St. Johns, Nova Scotia, Georgia, and 

STO. OF PHH.. — II 



I62 

East and West Florida," requesting them to send dele- 
gates to the next Congress. These addresses showed 
evidence of scholarship and ability, and aroused the ad- 
miration of the most astute statesmen throughout the 
civilized world. 

During its session Congress sat with closed doors. The 
members had taken an oath of secrecy, and the public 
waited with anxiety to hear the result of their delibera- 
tions. All eyes were turned toward Philadelphia during 
the convention. For three weeks little was known of their 
transactions, except that they voted contributions to their 
brethren at Boston. After the session was ended, Con- 
gress was entertained at the City Tavern by the Assembly 
of Pennsylvania. On October 26, 1774, Congress ad- 
journed, recommending that a second Continental Con- 
gress be again convened at Philadelphia May 10, 1775. 

Although this Congress did not assume direct political 
authority, their proceedings made a profound sensation 
throughout the civilized w^orld. As colonial advisers 
they made propositions in statesmanship which, carried 
out, have made us a great and powerful nation. The 
state papers of this Congress are unsurpassed by those 
of any age or country. Daniel Webster advised aspir- 
ing and patriotic young men to '' master the contents 
of these immortal papers and become imbued with their 
sentiments." Lord Chatham, on comparing their works 
with the masters of the world, said of them that '' for so- 
lidity of reasoning, force of sagacity, and wisdom of con- 
clusion under such a complication of circurnstances, no 
nation or body of men can stand in preference to the gen- 
eral Congress at Philadelphia." 



i63 



THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, 
JULY 4, 1776. 

THE Declaration of Independence is the greatest state 
paper ever penned by human hands. It was the 
charter of Hberty to an oppressed people, and the founda- 
tion upon which was reared the temple of freedom. Its 
passage on the 4th of July, 1776, makes that date one of 
the most noted in the history of nations. On that day a 
new nation, the United States of America, was born, a 
nation dedicated to the principle that all men are created 
free and equal, and possess the inalienable right of self- 
government. 

The Declaration of Independence was the outgrowth of 
that love of liberty and justice which characterizes the 
Anglo-Saxon race. The American colonists w^ere de- 
scendants of this race, and inherited these principles. They 
had come to this country that they might enjoy that civil 
and religious freedom which was denied them by the 
mother country^ Certain that they must lose their liber- 
ties or combine to maintain them, the colonies, as we have 
stated, convened a Colonial or Continental Congress, by 
which a united and determined resistance to the tyrannical 
acts of the king and his Parliament could be made. All 
peaceable appeals by the United Colonies being rejected, 
and the oppression continuing, it was at last decided to 
resist this oppression by force of arms. 

In thus attempting to maintain their rights the colonists 
had no idea of setting up a government of their own. The 
idea of separation from the mother country and of form- 



164 

ing a government for themseh-es dawned slowh' upon their 
minds. Jefferson said: "Before the 19th of April, 1775, 
I never heard a whisper of a disposition to separate from 
the mother country." Washington said: "When I first 
took command of the army, July 3, 1775, I abhorred the 
idea of independence, but now I am full}' convinced that 
nothing else will save us." 

When Congress assembled on May 10, 1775, some of 
the leading men of Philadelphia said to John Adams, on 
his arrival: "You must not utter the word 'independ- 
ence,' or give the least hint or insinuation of the idea, 
either in Congress or in private conversation ; if you do you 
are undone, for the idea is as unpopular in Pennsylvania 
and all the Middle and Southern States as the Stamp Act 
itself." 

But there were those who foresaw that if the acts of 
Parliament were enforced they would lead not only to 
war and bloodshed, but eventually to independence. As 
early as the year 1773 Patrick Henry, in an address, spoke 
of a " Declaration of Independence," and that is the ear- 
liest record we have of the distinct expression of the new- 
idea. In September, 1775, the provinces began to be 
called the " Thirteen United Colonies." In January, 
1776, Franklin drew up a plan of confederation. In Feb- 
ruary, 1776, the Continental Congress at Philadephia 
debated upon the propriety of independence. Benjamin 
Harrison of Virginia, an ancestor of the two Presi- 
dents of the United States bearing that name, said : " We 
have hobbled on under a fatal attachment to Great 
Britain. I feel that attachment as much as any man, but 
I feel a stronger one for my country." George Wythe 



i65 

of Virginia insisted that " we must declare ourselves a 
free people," and he moved that " the colonies have a 
right to contract alliances with foreign powers." A timid 
member exclaimed, " Why, this is independence ! " But the 
insults of Parliament, the hiring of Hessian soldiers by the 
British king to fight his subjects in America, the attempts 
to overthrow the colonial governments, the shedding of 
blood at Concord and Boston, so incensed the American 
people that the ties which bound them to the mother 
country gradually weakened, the people broke into open 
rebellion, and the necessity of an independent government 
became apparent. 

On June 7, 1776, the Continental Congress met in 
the Statehouse, Philadelphia. In this Congress were the 
noblest, wealthiest, and most respected citizens within the 
thirteen colonies. Among these were aristocratic South- 
erners, stern New^ England Puritans, and peaceful Penn- 
sylvania Quakers. Watson says : " Perhaps no body of 
men were more noted for their talents, firmness, and judg- 
ment. Their political contributions to the public presses, 
their skill and wisdom as commanders, their devotion and 
patriotism as men, have never been surpassed." 

The morning upon which this Congress met was one of 
the most eventful in American history. The Statehouse bell 
rang as usual to call the members together, and in solemn 
silence they walked in and took their places. The Presi- 
dent, John Hancock of Massachusetts, took his chair, and 
after prayer was offered, the assembly proceeded to busi- 
ness. The roll was called, and the members responded. 
Then Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, the Cicero of Con- 
gress, in his sweet, clear, musical voice, offered the instruc- 



i66 

tions of the Virginia Assembly, which proposed the 
independence and union of the colonies in the following 
words : 

" Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right 
ought to be, free and independent States, that they are 
absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that 
all political connection between them and the State of 
Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved. 

** That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effec- 
tive measures for forming foreign alliances. 

" That a plan of confederation be prepared and trans- 
mitted to the respective colonies for their consideration and 
approbation." 

This Resolution was an act of treason to the King of 
Great Britain, and punishable by death ; nevertheless, 
John Adams of Massachusetts immediately seconded it. 
In order to protect these two men from the anger of the 
king, Congress directed the secretary, Charles Thomson, 
to omit their names in the minutes of the journal, so that 
it reads: ** Certain resolutions respecting independence 
being moved and seconded, 

*' Resolved, That the consideration of them be deferred 
until to-morrow morning, and that the members be en- 
joined to attend punctually at ten o'clock, in order to take 
the same into their consideration." 

On the loth of June the first above-mentioned Resolu- 
tion was postponed until Monday, July i. That no time 
might be lost in case Congress agreed thereto, it was sug- 
gested that a committee of five be appointed to draft a 
Declaration of Independence in accordance with Lee's 
Resolution. On the nth of June this committee was se- 



16; 

lected, consisting of Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John 
Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin FrankHn of Pennsyl- 
vania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and R. R. Living- 
ston of New York. Thomas Jefferson, as representing the 
colony which introduced the Resolution, was selected chair- 
man of the committee. It is highly j^robable that Richard 
Henry Lee, the author of the Resolution for independence, 
would have been selected chairman of the committee, had 
he not been called home on account of the illness of his 
wife. The sad news reached him June lo, 1776, and he 
immediately requested a leave of absence from Congress, 
and left Philadelphia on the morning of June 11, before 
the committee was selected to draft the Declaration. The 
committee reported their draft June 28, and by motion 
it was laid on the table, and the house adjourned to Mon- 
day, the 1st of July. 

On July I the Resolution was taken up, and Congress 
resolved itself into a committee of the whole to decide 
upon the Resolution for independence. The leader of 
those who opposed the Resolution was John Dickinson, 
the " Pennsylvania Farmer." He declared that the sub- 
ject of independence was premature and impolitic. His 
opposition was not due to a lack of patriotism, but to the 
belief that it was inexpedient at that time. He said : 

*' I value the love of my country as I ought, but I value 
my country more, and I desire this illustrious assembly to 
witness the integrity, if not the policy of my conduct. 
The first campaign will be decisive of the controversy. 
The Declaration will not strengthen us by one man, or by 
the least supply, while it may expose our soldiers to ad- 
ditional cruelties and outrages. Without some prelusory 



1 68 

trials of our strength we ought not to commit our country 
upon an alternative where to recede would be infamy, and 
to persist might be destruction. . . . The measure ought 
to be delayed till the common interests shall in the best 
manner be consulted by common consent. Besides, the 
door to accommodation with Great Britain ought not to be 
shut until we know what terms can be obtained from some 
competent power. Thus to break with her before we have 
compacted with another is to make experiments on the 
lives and liberties of our countrymen, which I would 
sooner die than agree to make. At best it is to throw us 
into the hands of some other power and to lie at mercy, 
for we shall have passed the river that is never to be 
repassed. We ought to retain the Declaration, and remain 
masters of our own fame and fate." 

Richard Henry Lee eloquently replied : " Why then, sir, 
do we longer delay, why still deliberate ? Let this happy 
day give birth to an American republic. Let her arise, 
not to devastate and conquer, but to reestablish the reign 
of peace and law. The eyes of Europe are fixed upon us. 
She demands of us a living example of freedom, that may 
exhibit a contrast in the felicity of the citizen to the ever- 
increasing tyranny which desolates her polluted shores. 
She invites us to prepare an asylum where the unhappy 
may find solace and the persecuted repose. ... If we 
were not this day wanting in our duty to our country, the 
names of the American legislation of '76 will be placed 
by posterity at the side of those of Theseus, of Lycurgus, 
of Romulus, of Numa, of the three Williams of Nassau, 
and of all those whose memory has been, and forever will 
be, dear to virtuous men and good citizens." 



1 69 

Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, the youngest 
member of Congress, declared : " I should advise persist- 
ifig in our struggle for our liberty and independence, 
though it were revealed from Heaven that nine hundred 
and ninety-nine were to perish, and only one of a thousand 
were to survive and retain his liberty. One such freeman 
must possess more virtue than a thousand slaves ; and let 
him propagate his like, and transmit to them what he has 
so nobly preserved." In reply to Dickinson's remarks 
that " the people were not ripe for a Declaration of Inde- 
pendence," the rugged Scotch president of Princeton 
College, Dr. Witherspoon, exclaimed: "Not ripe, sir! 
In my judgment they are not only ripe, but rotting. 
Almost every colony has dropped from its parent stem, 
and your own province, sir, needs no more sunshine to 
mature it." 

This debate lasted nine hours, and nothing could with- 
stand the fiery zeal and impetuous patriotism of the de- 
fenders of liberty. 

The New York delegates had no instruction from their 
Assembly to vote on Lee's Resolution. When the votes 
were cast, South Carolina voted nay, Pennsylvania voted, 
four to three, nay, and the Delaware vote was a tie, while 
all the other colonies voted in the affirmative. The com- 
mittee of secret sessions was about to report the result, 
when Rutledge moved to adjourn to the following day. 
Then Thomas McKean sent a courier to Caesar Rodney, 
his associate delegate from Delaware, who had not been 
present to vote, urging him to hasten and save his honor 
and his country. When Rodney received the news, he 
called for his favorite horse and started on a journey of 



I/O 

eighty miles to Philadelphia. The night stars lighted the 
way for the lonely rider, and when morning broke he was 
nearing the city of Philadelphia. Meanwhile Dickinson 
saw that nothing would prevent the passage of the Resolu- 
tion for independence. On the 2d of July Robert Morris 
and John Dickinson, the delegates from Pennsylvania,-who 
were opposed to the Resolution until all the colonies should 
favor independence, absented themselves from Congress. 
Alexander Wilson voted with Benjamin Franklin in favor 
of the Resolution, while Charles Humphreys and Thomas 
Willing voted nay. John Morton now held the casting 
vote for Pennsylvania. His friends urged him to vote nay ; 
his conscience urged him to vote aye. When his name was 
called he responded in a clear and firm voice, " Aye." 
Thus he crowned Pennsylvania as the keystone of the arch 
of liberty, and declared for the American people union and 
independence. 

South Carolina now voted in favor of the Resolution. 
Meanwhile Caesar Rodney was nearing the city. In the 
dim distance he could see Christ Church tower, and with 
every moment he became more anxious and more de- 
termined to reach his destination. Under the heat of 
the sun, and suffering with a fatal disease, a cancer, he 
rushed on, and when the city was reached, went galloping 
down its streets, covered with dust, never drawing 
rein until he arrived at the Statehouse yard, where he 
threw himself from the saddle into the arms of McKean, 
who anxiously awaited him. Together they entered Con- 
gress arm in arm and took their seats. When the dele- 
gates from Delaware were called McKean voted aye and 
Read voted nay. Then Rodney, who carried the agony 



171 

of death in his face, and who brought the independence 
of Delaware in his spurs, arose and said : " As I beHeve 
the voice of my constituents and of all fair, sensible, and 
honest men are in favor of independence, and as my own 
judgment concurs with them, I vote for independence." 
When the news reached Dover of the passage of the 
Resolution, the people gave three cheers for independence 
and three for Caesar Rodney. 

At this meeting, July 2, the Resolution was adopted 
almost unanimously, all the thirteen colonies excepting 
New York affirming the vote. This, then, is the real inde- 
pendence day, the day upon which twelve colonies became 
united and independent States. When the decision of the 
vote was announced by Secretary Thomson to the as- 
sembled Congress, a profound silence ensued. 

The Declaration of Independence, a sequence to the 
Resolution, giving the reasons for the Declaration, was 
now taken up and discussed, July 2, 3, and 4. This 
was the document prepared by the committee of five, of 
whom Jefferson was chairman, and which had been laid on 
the table awaiting the passage of the Resolution. This 
original copy of the Declaration had a number of correc- 
tions, interlineations, and verbal alterations, and the entire 
paragraph concerning slavery had been stricken out, be- 
cause it imperiled the harmony of the colonies and the 
unanimity of the vote. A copy of the original document 
In Jefferson's oAvn handwriting is now in the possession of 
the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, the gift 
of the grandson of Richard Henry Lee. The engrossed 
copy, or formal Declaration, to which the signatures were 
attached later, is now in Washington in the Department 



of State. It was brought to Philadelphia in 1876, and 
exhibited at Independence Hall. 

After adopting- the Declaration, Congress ordered that 
it should be entered upon the journal, and be signed by the 
president and secretary in behalf of Congress. When 
President Hancock signed it, he arose and said : " There, 
John Bull can read my name without spectacles, and may 
now double his reward of five hundred pounds for my 
head. That is my defiance." President Hancock and 
Secretary Thomson were the only two persons who signed 
the Declaration on the day of its adoption, July 4, 1776. 
Congress further ordered that the Declaration be printed 
and be proclaimed in each of the United States and at the 
head of the American army ; and that copies should be 
sent to the State assemblies, conventions, and commanding 
officers of the American forces. 

On the 8th of July John Nixon, a prominent member 
of the Committee of Safety, and a son-in-law of Robert 
Morris, read the Declaration in the Statehouse yard to an 
assembly composed of the officers of the city and others. 
When the reading was finished cheers arose approving 
the act of Congress. The king's coat of arms over the seat 
of justice in the west room of the Statehouse was taken 
down to assist in making a bonfire. The revelry contin- 
ued until midnight, when a storm dispersed the crowd. 

Later the Declaration was read in all the States and in 
every city, village, and hamlet in the Union. The presi- 
dent of the Delaware Assembly said, as the picture of the 
king was hurled into the bonfire in the public square: 
" Compelled by strong necessity, thus we destroy even the 
shadow of that king who refused to reign over a free 



1/3 

people." On the 9th of July the soldiers of New York 
celebrated the occasion b}/ tearing down the leaden statue 
of George III. and molding it into bullets for the use of the 
American army. On the i 7th of July the Declaration was 
read in Faneuil Hall, Boston. When the last sentence fell 
from the speaker's lips, the air was rent with applause, the 
cannon boomed, a salute, was fired for every State in 
the Union, banquets, speeches, and toasts succeeded, and 
the austere Puritan became a patriot burning with inde- 
pendence. 

The Declaration of the 4th of July, as we have seen, was 
not unanimous. On the 9th of July the Assembly of New 
York approved of both the Resolution and the Declaration, 
and with the other colonies they pledged their lives and 
fortunes to the preservation of the Union. This act of New 
York was laid before Congress July 15 ; and on the 19th 
Congress " Resolved, That the Declaration, passed on the 
4th, be fairly engrossed on parchment, with the title and 
style of 'The unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen 
United States of America,' and when engrossed be signed 
by every member of Congress." On the 2d of August the 
journal of Congress reads: ** The Declaration of Independ- 
ence, being engrossed and compared at the table, was 
signed by the members." Fifty-four out of the fifty-six 
members signed the Declaration on this day. McKean 
of Delaware was temporarily absent in the army, and did 
not sign it until later. Matthew Thornton of New Hamp- 
shire signed it November 4, 1776. 

Several anecdotes are recorded in the diary of Mr. Jeflfer- 
son in respect to the- signing of the Declaration. As the 
members stood awaiting their turn to sign, Benjamin 



174 

Harrison of Virginia, a corpulent man, looking at the 
slender, withered form of Elbridge Gerry of Massachu- 
setts, said : " Gerry, when the hanging comes I shall have 
the advantage ; you '11 kick in the air half an hour after it 
is all over with me." It was about this time, too, that 
Franklin made one of his celebrated witticisms. " We 
must all hang together in this business," said one of the 




Signing the Ducl^raii^n ^f Independence. 



members. "Yes," said FrankHn, "we must all hang to- 
gether, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." 
Many beautiful expressions of tribute to the wisdom and 
heroism of the signers of this Declaration have been ten- 
dered by the world's most eminent and illustrious men. 
Suffice to quote the words of Napoleon, the " conqueror 
of nations," the " man of destiny," who said,, in awe of 
this act of Congress, " The finger of God was there." 



175 



THOMAS JEFFERSON AND THE DECLARA- 
TION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

THE name of Thomas Jefferson is inseparably asso- 
ciated with the Declaration of Independence. This 
immortal document, the charter of American freedom, was 
the product of liis rare political genius. It was wTitten by 
him in the year 1776, when he was only thirty-three years 
of age, in a house on the corner of Seventh and Market 
streets, Philadelphia. 

Thomas Jefferson was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, 
April 13, 1743. He was educated at the College of Wil- 
liam and Mary, was admitted to the bar when twenty- 
four years of age, and was one of the best educated of the 
public men who have been associated with the history of 
the United States. At an early day he began to be inter- 
ested in those questions of government which agitated the 
colonies. In a letter to King George III. he insisted that 
the ** whole art of government consists in the art of being 
honest. Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give 
you credit when you fail." Like his father before him, 
he was a man of the people. He was by nature a demo- 
crat, believing in the right of the people to govern them- 
selves. His theory was that the basis of government 
should be the expressed opinion of those governed. Later 
in life he became the founder of a new party, the Repub- 
lican, the corner stone of whose political principles was that 
in the State the will of the people is the supreme law. 

In 1 768 he was elected a member of the Virginia legis- 
lature or House of Burgesses. He entered upon public 



1/6 

service with the resolution " never to engage, while in pub- 
lic office, in any kind of enterprise for the improvement of 
my fortune," and he kept his word. He took a leading part 
in urging the resistance of Virginia to British oppression, 
and wrote the "Draft of Instructions" ior the Virginia 
delegation to Congress, which met in Philadelphia Sep- 
tember 5, 1774. 

Jefferson was appointed a delegate from Virginia to 
attend the second Continental Congress, which met in 
Philadelphia Ma}' 10, 1775, and was an earnest, diligent, 
and useful member of this congress. He was no orator, 
but there was something in his manner and character that 
gave him a commanding influence in every deliberative 
body of which he was a member. His sterling character, 
his extensive knowledge, his clear grasp of political prin- 
ciples, his intense patriotism, soon made him a leading 
figure in Congress, and he served on the most important 
committees. 

A year later Jefferson had an opportunity to express 
his theory of government and to apply it practically. A 
committee had been chosen bv Conoress to draft a Dec- 
laration of Independence, and Thomas Jefferson was 
appointed its chairman, and as such was naturally asked 
to prepare a draft of the Declaration. He was peculiarly 
qualified to write this document. Although only thirty- 
three years of age, one of the youngest members of Con- 
gress, and the youngest member of the committee, he had 
made a careful study of the issues between the colonies 
and the mother country, and possessed mature views of 
free government. He was born a freeman ; he had an 
innate love of liberty and justice ; he came from the colony 










STO. OF PHIL. — 12 



178 

which first proposed to maintain its constitutional rights 
and declare for independence ; and he was filled with that 
spirit of liberty which was now sweeping over the land. 
Further, he was an astute lawyer, a skillful parliamen- 
tarian, a ready and facile writer, and a political author of 
note. 

Upon receiving his appointment Jefferson went to work 
at his task, and in seventeen days drafted a plan by which 
a new empire, self-ruled, sprang into existence. He wrote 
** from the fullness of his mind, without consulting one 
book." When the rough draft had been made, Jefferson 
submitted it separately to Dr. Franklin and to Mr. Adams, 
because, as he says, " they were the two members whose 
judgments and amendments I wish most to have the benefit 
of before presenting it to the committee. . . . Their alter- 
ations were two or three only, and mostly verbal. I then 
wrote a fair copy, reported it to the committee, and from 
them unaltered to Consfress." 

When the Declaration was reported to Congress a warm 
debate ensued, which lasted for three days. During this 
time Jefferson remained seated and did not utter a word. 
FrankHn, it is said, tried to comfort him when he saw 
him " writhing under the acrimonious criticism of some of 
its parts." 

In regard to the changes made by Congress in his 
manuscript, Jefferson afterwards wrote : " The pusillani- 
mous idea that we had friends in England worth keeping- 
terms with still haunted the minds of many. For this 
reason, those passages which conveyed censures on the 
people of England were struck out, lest they should give 
them offense. The clause, too, reprobating the enslaving 



179 

of the inhabitants of Africa was struck out in complaisance 
to South Carolina and Georgia, who had never attempted 
to restrain the importation of slaves, and who, on the con- 
trary, still wished* to continue it. Our Northern brethren 
also, I believe, felt a little tender under these censures, for 
though their people had very few slaves themselves, yet 
they had been pretty considerable carriers of them to 
others." 

Many copies of the Declaration were made by Jefferson 
in his own handwriting, some of which have been pre- 
served. From the original corrected draft he made two 
fair copies, one to be submitted to Congress as the report 
of the committee, and one for Richard Henry Lee, which 
he sent him with the following letter: 

" Philadelphia, July 8, 1776. 
" Dear Sir: ... I inclose a copy of the Declaration 
of Independence, as agreed to by the House, and also as 
originally framed. You will judge whether it is better or 
worse for the critics. . . ." 

When Lee received this letter he compared the copy of 

the original with the copy amended by Congress, and drew 

a black line under the several parts rejected by Congress, 

and on the margin opposite he wrote the word *' out." 

Jefferson evidently was not pleased with the criticism made 

by Congress, and was anxious to hear from Lee, who 

addressed him the following letter in reply : 

• 
" Chantilly, 2 1 July, 1776. 

" Dear Sir: I thank you much for your favor and its 

inclosures by this post, and I wish sincerely, as well for the 



i8o 

honor of Congress, as for that of the States, that the manu- 
script had not been mangled as it is. It is wonderful, 
and passing pitiful, that the rage of change should be so 
unhappily applied. However, the Thing is in its nature 
so good that no Cookery can spoil the Dish for the pal- 
ates of Freemen." 

It is not generally known that this manuscript copy 
which Jefferson prepared for Richard Henry Lee, is now in 
the possession of the American Philosophical Society, Phil- 
adelphia. It \^'as presented to this societ}' August 19, 1825, 
by Richard Henry Lee, grandson of the Richard Henry 
Lee who introduced the famous Resolution for independ- 
ence in the Congress held at Philadelphia June 7, 1776. 
This document is closely written on four pages or two 
sheets of foolscap paper, measuring twelve and a half by 
seven and seven eighths inches, and was originally folded 
in four parts. This draft is an autograph copy made by 
Jefferson at the same time in which he reported a draft to 
Congress, and as the draft submitted to Congress cannot 
be found, this copy of the American Philosophical Society 
is regarded as the sole original draft. 

In reply to a letter written by John Vaughan, librarian 
of the American Philosophical Society, as to the historic 
value of the draft in the possession of the said society, 
Thomas Jefferson wrote : 

" MONTICELLO, September 16, 1825. 
** Dear Sir: I am not able to give you any particular 
account of the paper handed you by Mr. Lee, as being either 
the original or a copy of the Declaration of Independence, 



I8i 

sent by myself to his grandfather. The draught, when 
completed by myself, with a few verbal amendments by Dr. 
Franklin and Mr. Adams, two members of the Committee, 
in their own handwriting", is now in my own possession, and 
a fair copy of this was reported to the Committee, passed by 
them without amendment, and then reported to Congress. 
This latter should be among the records of the old Con- 
gress ; and whether this or the one from which it was 
copied and now in my hands, is to be called the original 
is a question of definition. To that in my hands, if worth 
preserving, my relations with our University give irresisti- 
ble claims. 

** Whenever in the course of the composition, a copy 
became overcharged, and difficult to be read with amend- 
ments, I copied it fair, and when that also was crowded 
with other amendments, another fair copy was made, etc. 
These rough draughts I sent to distant friends who were 
anxious to know what was passing. But how many, and 
to whom, I do. not recollect. One sent to Mazzei was 
given by him to the Countess de Tessie (aunt of Madame 
de Lafayette) as tJie original, and is probably now in the 
hands of her family. Whether the paper sent to R. H. 
Lee was one of these, or whether, after the passage of the 
instrument, I made a copy for him, with the amendments 
of Congress, may, I think, be known from the face of the 
paper. The documents Mr. Lee has given you must be 
of great value, and until all these private hoards are made 
public, the real history of the revolution will not be 
known." 

Other copies, said to be the original copies of the draft 
made by JefTerson, are still in existence. Three of these 



I 82 

are in the library of the Department of State at Washing- 
ton, and there is a copy in the Emmet collection in the 
Lenox Library, New York, and a frai^nicnt of a copy in 
the possession of Airs. Washburn of Boston. Although 
Jefferson made copies that he sent to distant friends, it is 
not known that any have been preserved. 

The Declaration was written in a house at the southwest 
corner of Seventh and Market streets, Philadelphia. This 
house was removed in the year 1883, and on its site was 
erected the Penn National Bank. W^hen Jefferson re- 
ceived his appointment to draft the Declaration on the 
iith of June, 1776, he went immediately to his room 
in the house No. 700 Market Street, and in the sec- 
ond-story front corner room of that building penned 
the immortal document. It is said that it was written 
upon a desk which he himself had made, and which is still 
in existence. Some years after, when a dispute arose as 
to the place in which it was written, Jefferson, at the 
request of a Philadelphian, replied : " At the time of 
writing that instrument I lodged in the house of a Mr. 
Gratz [Graft"], a new brick house, three stories high, of 
which I rented the second floor, consisting of a parlor and 
bedroom ready furnished. In that parlor I wrote habitu- 
ally, and in it wrote this paper particularly. So far I 
state from written proof in my possession." Jefferson 
further states that it was his recollection that the house 
was located on the south side of Market Street, between 
Seventh and Eighth, and that it was a corner house. 
He was so much interested in its historic location that he 
wrote a month later to ascertain if his memory had served 
him faithfuUv. 



1 83 



To mark this site a memorial tablet in the form of a 
shield, with the following inscription, was placed on the 
bank February 14, 1884, at the suggestion of the his- 
torian, Miss Longstreth of Germantown : 

'' On this Site 

Originally Stood the Dwelling 

in which Thomas Jefferson 

Drafted the Declaration of Independence, 

Which was Adopted by the 

Continental Congress, 

in this City, July 4, 1776. 

Erected 1775. Removed 1883." 

This tablet is erroneously placed, being partly on the 

lot originally numbered 702. It is claimed by some that 

the house in which the Declaration 

was written was No. 702, but that 

building was not erected until the 

year i 796. This tablet 

should be placed over 

the main entrance of the 

bank. A few relics of the 

original building have been 

preserved. The chair in which 

Jefferson sat while writing the 

Declaration of Independence is in 

the hall of the American Philosoph- i"^_ 

ical Society of Philadelphia, and the ^^^ 
1 1 ^ 1 • 1 , ^ . . Jefferson's Chair. 

desk at which he wrote is now in 

the Department of State, Washington. Other relics were 

preserved by Mr. Thomas Donaldson of Philadelphia, to 




1 84 



whom belongs the credit of proving the exact location of 
house No. 700 Market Street, in which Jefferson lodged 
and in which he wrote the first draft of the Declaration of 
Independence. 

The world recognizes in the Declaration of Independ- 
ence the wisdom and genius of Thomas Jefferson. Web- 
ster says : " To say that he performed his great work 
well would be doing him an injustice; to say that he did 
it excellently well, admirably well, would be inadequate 
and halting praise. Let us rather say, that he so dis- 
charged the duty 
assigned him, 
that all xA.mer- 
icans may well 
rejoice that the 
work of drawing 
the title deed of 
their liberties 
devolved upon 
him." Histori- 
ans place Jeffer- 
son among the 
world's greatest statesmen, honor him as the foremost of 
the founders of the American republic, and claim that he 
is the " rarest flower in the garden of liberty." 

Thomas Jefferson lived to the age of eighty-three 
years, dying July 4, 1826, on an anniversary of the day 
he had helped to make so memorable. He was buried in 
his own graveyard at Monticello, Virginia, and over him 
was placed a stone upon which was the inscription ordered 
by himself : 





mmQ 



^^^'^Sf^^lf^mm^ 




Where the Declaration was Written. 



i85 

"THOMAS JEFFERSON, 

Author of 

The Declaration of American Independence ; 

Of the Statute of Virginia for 

Rehgious Freedom ; 

and 

Father of the University of Virginia. 

Born 

April 2, 1743, O. S. ; 

Died 

July 4, 1826." 

This was afterwards replaced by a monument erected by 
the government, containing the same inscription as the 
original stone. This monument has been so chipped and 
battered by the relic seeker that the corners and edges 
have been entirely hewn away. A few years ago all that 
remained of the original inscription was : ** Born April 2, 
O. S., 1743 ; Died July 4, 1826." 



y?^i 



GENERAL WASHINGTON IN PHILADELPHIA. 

WHEN the first Continental Congress met at Philadel- 
phia, Monday, September 5, 1774, there appeared 
among the delegates a handsome colonial officer in military 
uniform. His open countenance, fine physique, and firm- 
ness of step indicated a man of thought, purpose, and 
action. This distinguished-looking man was George 
Washington of Virginia. He had left his home at Mount 
Vernon, on the beautiful Potomac River, only a few days 



186 



before, and with Patrick Henry and Edmund Pendleton, 
also delegates from Virginia, rode to Philadelphia on 
horseback to attend the first Continental Congress of all 
the colonies. 

This was not the first time that Washington had visited 
Philadelphia. In May, 1758, he came to consult w^ith the 







Delegates from Virginia. 

British general. Lord Loudoun, on military affairs. He w^as 
then a young man, scarce twenty-six years of age, possess- 
ing both wealth and influence, a born soldier, who liad seen 
service, and was anxious to learn more about the art of war. 
On this \isit he bought a gold ring, at the cost of tw^o 
pounds sixteen shillings, and while journeying southward 
visited the relatives of a young widow, named Mrs. 
Custis. Within a year from this date he married Mrs. 
Custis, and it is safe to infer that the ring bought in Phil- 



187 

adeiphia was the engagement or wedding ring for his 
bride. 

When the second Continental Congress met at Philadel- 
phia, May lo, 1775, Washington was again a delegate from 
Virginia. His experience in the field, and his executive 
abilities as a soldier, were of inestimable value to Congress 
in framing a military plan of action. By this time the 
King of Great Britain had declared war, and the Amer- 
icans, undaunted, had seized their arms, and stood face to 
face with the king's troops at Boston. But the Americans 
needed a commander in chief of the Continental forces, so 
on June 15, 1775, Congress, in session at the Statehouse, 
passed the following resolution : 

*' Resolved, That a General be appointed to command all 
the Continental Forces, raised or to be raised for the de- 
fence of American liberty. 

" That five hundred dollars per month be allowed for 
the pay and expenses of the General." 

There were many military men in the country who 
were ambitious of the honor of being " commander in 
chief of the Continental forces." The thought of the 
Congress was expressed, however, when Thomas Johnson, 
a delegate from Maryland, arose and nominated Colonel 
George Washington of Virginia. As soon as Washington 
heard his name proposed, he modestly left the room and 
remained in the library while the vote was being taken. 
On the following day John Hancock, president of Con- 
gress, notified Washington that he had been unanimously 
chosen commander in chief of the American forces, and 
requested that he would accept the call of his countrymen. 
Colonel Washington, rising by his chair, said : 



i88 

" Mr. President : Though I am truly sensible of the 
high honor done me in this appointment, yet, I feel great 
distress from a consciousness that my abilities and military 
experience may not be equal to the extensive and impor- 
tant trust. However, as the Congress desire it, I will 
enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power 
I possess in their service, and for support of the glorious 
cause. I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks 
for this distinguished testimony of their approbation. 

" But. lest some unlucky event" should happen unfa- 
vourable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered 
by every Gentleman in the room that I this day declare 
with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to 
the command I am honored with. 

" As to pa}'. Sir, I beg leave to assure the Congress 
that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me 
to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my 
domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to n^.ake any 
profit from it. I will keep an exact account of m\' ex- 
pences. Those I doubt not they will discliarge, and that 
is all I desire." 

On June 17, 1775, the following resolution was passed 
by the Congress : 

" Whereas, the Delegates of all the Colonies from Nova 
Scotia to Georgia, in Congress assembled, have unani- 
mously chosen George WasJiiugtou Esq. to be General and 
Commander in Chief, of such Forces as are or shall be raised 
for the maintenance and preservation of American Liberty ; 
this Congress doth now declare, that they will maintain and 
assist him, and adhere to him the said George IVas/iington, 
with their Lives and Fortunes in the same Cause." 




George Washington. 



190 

Washington was a man of high character, and a 
patriot. At the call of duty he was wilhng to leave his 
home, family, and friends, and to sacrifice his ease, and to 
jeopardize his life, in the cause of his country. At the 
opening of hostilities he declared that he would raise one 
thousand men, subsist them at his own expense, and 
march at their head for the relief of Boston. Wash- 
ington's commission as " General and Commander in 
Chief of the Army of the United Colonies, and of all the 
forces raised, or to be raised by them," was, by order 
of Congress, presented to him at the Statehouse, Phila- 
delphia, Monday, June 19, 1775. The next morning 
Washington was in the saddle reviewing the two thou- 
sand or more troops that were mobilized in Philadelphia. 
On June 21, he was tendered a farewell supper at the 
City Tavern, and the next morning, accompanied by Gen- 
eral Lee, and escorted by the City Troop and the officers 
of the militia on horseback, he left Philadelphia to take 
charge of the American army at Cambridge, Massa- 
chusetts. 

Almost a year elapsed before Washington again visited 
Philadelphia, May 23, 1776. He had hastened to the city 
at the request of Congress, to form a plan of military 
operations. For two days he consulted with Congress, 
and finally prevailed upon them to enlist soldiers for 
three years, create a flying camp of ten thousand militia, 
and establish a war office. He then inspected the 
city militia of about twenty-five hundred men. In 
this review he was attended by several Indian chiefs. 
On the 5th of June, accompanied by Generals Gates 
and Mifflin, he returned to his army at New York. Fear- 



191 

ing that the British fleet would sail from New York and 
make an attack on Philadelphia, he moved southward and 
encamped his army beyond Germantown at ten o'clock 
at night, July 31, 1777. On the ist of August he ex- 
amined the defenses of the Delaware River. The follow- 
ing day a dinner was given in his honor in Philadelphia, 
and it was on this occasion that he first met the Marquis 
de Lafayette. Lafayette was favorably impressed with 
Washington, and their friendship throughout the Revolu- 
tionary struggle presents a beautiful picture of devoted 
attachment to each other. On the evening of the 4th 
Washington rode out to his army, encamped at the Falls 
of Schuylkill, and ordered them to move northward to- 
ward the Little Neshaminy Creek to await the movements 
of the enemy. He remained here thirteen days, when 
word was brought that the British fleet was moving toward 
the Chesapeake; upon this he resolved to move his army 
farther south to protect Philadelphia. In the meantime, 
August 20, Lafayette joined Washington, and together 
they came down the Old York Road, and encamped at 
Nicetown August 23. That night they staid at " Sten- 
ton," the homestead of the Logan family, and Washing- 
ton issued the order to the army : " Be ready to move 
precisely at four in the morning if it should not rain." 

It was General Washington's design to march his army 
through Philadelphia, the capital of the nation, and so he 
ordered the officers to have their arms burnished, to keep 
step with fife and drum, to carry their arms well, and 
to keep the ranks well closed, that the army might make 
as striking and efl'ective a display as possible. When all 
was ready, Washington, with Lafayette by his side as 



192 

aid-de-camp, rode into the city at the head of ten thou- 
sand troops in single column. They marched down 
Front Street to Chestnut, and up Chestnut to the com- 
mons, halting about where the City Hall now stands. 
Thence they marched to Market Street Ferry, where 
they crossed the river. An old chronicler says that '* they 
made a fine appearance ; the order of marching was ex- 
tremely well preserved." John Adams said : ** Our sol- 
diers have not yet the air of soldiers. They don't step 
exactly in time. They don't hold up their heads quite 
erect, nor turn out their toes so exactly as they ought. 
They don't all of them cock their hats, and such as do, 
don't all wear them the same way." In the words of La- 
fayette : ** Eleven thousand men, but tolerably armed, and 
still worse clad, presented a singular spectacle. In their 
parti-colored and often naked state, the best dresses were 
hunting shirts of brown linen. Their tactics were equally 
irregular ; they were arranged without regard to size, except 
that the smallest men were in the front ranks. With all 
this they were good-looking soldiers conducted by zealous 
officers." Washington said to Lafayette: "We ought to 
feel embarrassed in presenting ourselves before an officer 
just from the French army." Lafayette modestly replied : 
" It is to learn, not to instruct, that I came here." After 
the battle of Brandywine, September ii, 1777, Wash- 
ington retreated with his army to Chester, thence to 
the Falls of Schuylkill, and from there to Warwick, 
and thence across the Schuylkill river to the Perklomen 
Creek, returning for the battle of Germantown October 4, 
1777. 

In 1778 Washington left the main body of his army 



193 

in winter quarters at Middlebrook, New Jersey, and set 
out to attend the meeting of Congress at Philadelphia, 
arriving December 22. He came secretly and without 
heralds, and the citizens were chagrined that they could 
not give him such a welcome as they felt his greatness and 
goodness merited. Two days after he was consulting with 
Congress on the "operation of the next campaign." On 
this visit he attended the festival of St. John the Evan- 
gelist, by the " Most Worshipful Society of Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons," and occupied the chief place in the 
procession. 

Washington's stay in Philadelphia during this winter 
was a series of ovations. He was honored with every 
mark of esteem that the city and Congress could offer 
him. On January 6, 1 779, a sociable was tendered him by 
the city mayor at No. 244 South Third Street. On the 
1 8th Congress gave a banquet to the French ministry in 
honor of their alliance with the American cause, and 
Washington was an honored guest. On this occasion 
thirteen toasts were drunk, and each toast was introduced 
by a salute of artillery. Two days' later Washington, after 
much importuning on the part of the supreme executive 
council of Philadelphia, consented to have his portrait 
painted, which when finished was to be placed in the 
council chamber. The painter was Charles Wilson Peale, 
and the painting was completed in 1 780, but was destroyed 
by fire the following year. 

The fortunes of war now carried Washington to the 
North and East, and it was not until August 30, I 781, that 
he again returned to Philadelphia. On that day the citi- 
zens received the news of his coming, and there was a 

STO. OF THIL. — 13 



194 

hasty mounting; of horses and a clattering of hoofs out to 
the Old York Road. It was one o'clock when they re- 
turned, escorting General Washington, Count de Rocham- 
beau, and Chastellux into the city, and thence to the home 
of Robert Morris, which Washington made his temporary 
headquarters. At about 3 P.M. General Washington paid 
his respects to Congress. When the meeting was over 
Thomas McKean, president of Congress, accompanied 
General Washington to the home of Robert Morris, 
where, with Generals Knox, Moultrie, Sullivan, and 
others, he attended a banquet given in his honor. 
Toasts were drunk, the vessels in the river fired salutes, 
the streets of the city were illuminated, and the people 
pressed forward to cheer their beloved general. 

At this time the American army, with their French 
allies, was marching toward Philadelphia, and the British 
army, under Cornwallis, was encamped at Yorktown. In 
order that the defeat of Cornwallis might be made certain, 
the American army was compelled to move rapidly south- 
ward. On September 2, 1781, the American and French 
troops passed through Philadelphia in review before Con- 
gress. The president of Congress remained uncovered ; 
on his right stood Congress, on his left Washington and 
Count Rochambeau, also uncovered. It was an imposing 
sight. The combined army extended nearly two miles 
in length. The soldiers were cheered by the crowds who 
lined the sidewalks, and by the ladies, who fluttered 
handkerchiefs and flags from the windows. The band 
played soul-stirring music, and as the soldiers kept step, 
their hearts beat high with hope, confident that under 
their noble commander they would win a victory. 



195 

On the evening of the 4th of September a state dinner 
was given by the French minister, M. de la Luzerne, in 
his house on the north side of Chestnut Street between 
Sixth and Seventh streets, to the president of Congress and 
the chiefs of the American army. Scarcely was the com- 
pany seated at table when a courier announced the arrival 
of Count de Grasse in the Chesapeake Bay, with twenty- 
eight ships and three thousand troops under Marquis Saint- 
Simon. Washington hastened away to fight the battle of 
Yorktown, returning to Philadelphia November 26, 1781, 
to be crowned the victorious commander in chief of the 
American forces. 

Arriving at Philadelphia, General and Mrs. Washing- 
ton went to live at Benjamin Chew's house. No. 1 10 South 
Third Street, and remained there several months. Wash- 
ington was summoned to meet Congress at one o'clock on 
the day following his arrival and the evening was devoted 
to a celebration of the Yorktown victory. 

Almost every organization in Philadelphia at this time 
claimed a share in honoring Washington. On January i, 
1782, the ''Society of Friendly Sons of St. Patrick" in 
Philadelphia gave a dinner in his honor, at which he met 
distinguished foreigners and the bravest and boldest of 
his field officers, who were as brilliant and keen of wit 
around the table as they were active and strong upon the 
field of battle. On the following day he attended a " most 
elegant entertainment " at the old Southwark Theater, on 
Front below Noble Street. The entertainment ended with 
an illumination of thirteen pillars; on the middle column 
Cupid was seen supporting a laurel crown over the motto, 
*' Washington, t/ie pride of his country and the terror of 



196 

Britain,'' and on the summit of the column was the word 
" Virginia." 

Washington remained in Philadelphia, attending to the 
affairs of state for Congress and for the army, until 
March 22, 1 782, when he left for West Point. He returned 
July 14. 1782, to meet Count de Rochambeau and to con- 
sult with him regarding the movements of the army, and 
both commanders agreed to concentrate their forces on the 
Hudson. On the 24th he left Philadelphia for the North. 

The war being over and peace proclaimed, Washing- 
ton turned his face toward Mount Vernon, his home in 
Virginia. On December 8, 1783, he again came to Phil- 
adelphia. His friends, John Dickinson, Robert Morris, 
Generals St. Clair and Hand, with the City Troop, went 
out to meet him. In token of the people's gratitude and 
pride in their commander, bells rang, salutes of artillery 
were fired, bands played, and an immense concourse of 
people hailed him with delight. On December 9 and 
10 he received the congratulations of the General As- 
sembly of Pennsylvania and of the president and supreme 
executive council of the State. On May i, 1784, he came 
to Philadelphia to attend the first general meeting of the 
Society of the Cincinnati, of which he was the president. 

Every State and city in the Union now honored General 
Washington, but in no city did the esteem and enthusiasm 
exceed that of Philadelphia. The American Philosophical 
Society, the trustees and faculty of the University of 
Pennsylvania, congressmen, clergymen, lawyers, doctors, 
and citizens, merchants and militia, all united in paying 
him homage. Eight years before, in the city of Philadel- 
phia, he had received his commission as commander in 



197 

chief of the Continental army. He had accomplished his 
mission ; and through his efforts liberty, union, and inde- 
pendence were secured to the American people. He now 
laid down his commission and retired to private life, bear- 
ing with him the grateful benedictions of the nation. 



3',^C 



INDEPENDENCE HALL. 

INDEPENDENCE HALL, on the south side of Chest- 
nut Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, is the 
most famous historical building in America. This " tem- 
ple of freedom " is precious not only to the citizens of 
Philadelphia, but to the lovers of liberty everywhere. It 
was in this building that the Continental Congress estab- 
lished, enforced, and perfected individual freedom and 
national independence, and, as a result, every part of Inde- 
pendence Hall is associated with the birth of American 
liberty and the development of the American republic. 

Prior to July 4, 1776, Independence Hall was known as 
the Statehouse. For nearly fifty years, from the founding 
of the government of Pennsylvania by William Penn, the 
Assembly of the province had no regular place for meet- 
ing. In May, 1729, the Pennsylvania Assembly declared 
that it was ** incommodious as well as dishonorable for 
the General Assembly of the province to be obliged an- 
nually to hire some private house to meet and sit in." 
It was therefore determined to erect a Statehouse in Phila- 
delphia, and by an act of the Assembly two thousand 
pounds were appropriated to purchase ground and erect 



198 

a StatehoLise building. A site was chosen on Chestnut 
Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets. A building com- 
mittee was appointed, designs were submitted, and that of 
Andrew Hamilton was approved. He therefore became 
the architect, and under his careful supervision the State- 
house was erected at a cost of sixteen thousand two hun- 
dred and fifty dollars. 

The foundations of the Statehouse were laid in 1732. 
The main building was so far completed that it was oc- 
cupied by the Assembly September 15, 1735. The east 
wing was completed in the same year, and the west wing, 
or Provincial Hall, in 1739-40. In October, 1739, the 
Philadelphia Library Company made application for the 
use of the second story west wing of the Statehouse, " to 
deposit their books in," which was granted, and the books 
remained there until 1773. The lower floor was occupied 
by the provincial secretary until the end of the provincial 
government. Mr. Hamilton died August 4, 1741, before 
the Statehouse was completed. The tower was erected 
in I 74 1, and on January 27, 1750, the Assembly ordered 
" an addition on the south side of said house to contain 
a staircase with a suitable place for hanging a bell." 

In I 75 I or I 752 a steeple was built over the tower, and 
in June, 1753, the Liberty Bell was hung therein. 
About this time a clock was built by Peter Stretch and 
placed in the tower, for which he received £494. $s. ^Yzd., 
with the understanding that he was to keep the clock in 
repair for six years. On February 19, 1752, it was 
ordered " that the superintendent of the Statehouse do 
build a suitable room adjoining the southeast corner of said 
building for the accommodation of the Committee of the 



199 

House," and In 1753 it was completed and used as a com- 
mittee room and a library. Here the valuable records, 
books, and papers belonging to Congress were ordered to 
be kept, and it was to this room that Washington modestly 
retired when his name was proposed as commander in chief 
of the American forces. 

At that time the Statehouse was the finest building of its 
kind in the colonies. It was so well planned and built that 
it is " as indestructible as is the great principle of liberty, 
of which it is the most venerated monument in the world." 
After the Declaration of Independence was announced, 
July 8, 1776, the Statehouse became known as Inde- 
pendence Hall. From its erection until 1777 it was used 
as a Statehouse ; but while the British occupied the city, 
from September 26, 1777, until June 18, 1778, they used 
this building as a hospital and prison. After the evacua- 
tion it became again the seat of government. The hall 
was closed to the public in 1895, ^'^ order that it might be 
restored to conform as nearly as possible to its appear- 
ance in 1776, and the restoration was announced to be 
completed in 1898. For this restoration the nation is in- 
debted to the city's officials, under the direction of the 
Hon. Charles F. Warwick, mayor of the city of Philadel- 
phia, and his advisory committee, among whom were 
Judge Samuel W. Pennypacker, Hampton L. Carson, Mrs. 
Charles C. Harrison, and Mrs. Mary B. Chew. 

As the visitor nears Independence Hall he sees the 
American flag floating over the building. In front of 
the hall is a statue of General George Washington, 
which was erected by the Washington Monument As- 
sociation of the First School District of Pennsylvania 



200 

July 4, 1869. As he ascends the marble steps and enters 
the paved hallway from Chestnut Street, the west room 
comes prominently into view between three fine arches 
supported by strong pillars. In this room over the judges' 
bench hangs the portrait of Chief Justice Thomas McKean, 
in his scarlet coat, full cravat, puflf sleeves, and powdered 
wig. To the right of the entrance is a portrait of Judge 
Benjamin Chew, and to the left a portrait of Judge William 
Allen. On the platform are placed the chairs in which 
the chief justice and his associates sat. 

The west room w^as used as a judicial chamber, Novem- 
ber 14, 1743, and during the continuance of proprietary 
government it was occupied by the Supreme Court of 
the province, and over the judges' bench was placed the 
king's coat of arms. These insignia were taken down after 
the reading of the Declaration of Independence July 8, 
1776. On the 15th of July 1776, the convention called to 
frame a new constitution for the State of Pennsylvania met 
in this room, and continued in session until September 28. 
On the 20th of July they elected delegates to Congress. 
On July 25 they passed a resolution to support the Decla- 
ration of Independence and maintain the freedom of this 
and the other United States at the utmost risk of their 
lives and fortunes. At this session they unanimously 
passed and confirmed a Declaration of Rights, which 
frame of government was enforced until the end of the 
Revolution. After the arrival of the second Continental 
Congress, 1775, the Pennsylvania Assembly met in this 
room until the entry of Lord Howe. 

Set in the east wall of the hallway are two tablets 
bearing the following inscriptions: 



20I 

THE DECLARATION 

OF 

INDEPENDENCE 

July 4th, 1776 

(From the preamble) 

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF- 
EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED 
EQUAL; THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR 
CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS; 
THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND 
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. THAT TO SECURE 
THESE RIGHTS, GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED 
AMONG MEN, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS 
FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED. 



THE CONSTITUTION 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES 

September 17th. 1787 

The Preamble. 

WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, 
IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT 
UNION, ESTABLISH JUSTICE, INSURE DOMESTIC 
TRANQUILITY, PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DE- 
FENCE, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, AND 
SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OUR- 
SELVES AND OUR POSTERITY, DO ORDAIN AND 
ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED 

STATES OF AMERICA. 

The east room, which is directly opposite the judicial 
chamber, is known as Independence Chamber. This room 



202 



was the scene of many important events in the history of 
our nation. It has been restored as far as possible to its 
original appearance. On an average a million persons 
visit the Statehouse annually. Here may be seen the old 
colonial chair which has painted upon its back the emblem 

of a rising sun. 
It was long used 
by Isaac Norris, 
while he was the 
president of the 
Provincial As- 
sembly, and even 
in his time it 
already had a 
colonial history. 
James Madison 
tells us that when, 
at last, the Fed- 
eral Convention 
had adopted and 
signed the Con- 
stitution, Frank- 
lin arose and said 
that painters had 
found it hard to 
distinguish be- 
tween the picture of a rising and a setting sun, and that 
he had often looked at the painted sun on the back of the 
president's chair, uncertain whether it was rising or set- 
ting; but now he felt that it was a rising sun. In this 
chair John Hancock sat when he issued the commission 




The plain mahogany table upon which the Dec- 
laration of Independence was signed." 



203 

to Colonel George Washington as commander in chief 
of the Continental army, and also when he signed the 
Declaration of Independence. In it Washington sat as 
president of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The 
plain mahogany table upon which the Declaration of In- 
dependence was signed still stands in its original place ; 
to the right of it is the table used by Secretary Charles 
Thomson, and to the left one occupied by another member 
of Congress, while the massive silver inkstand used on 
this occasion is also preserved. Many old chairs ac- 
quired by donation may be seen as memorials of 1776, 
as well as the old fireplace and tongs and the wooden 
statue of Washington carved by William Rush. In the 
center of this room, suspended from the ceiling, is one 
of the two colonial chandeliers which were brought from 
France and placed in this chamber in 1735. The portraits 
of forty- five out of the fifty-six signers of the Declara- 
tion have been obtained and hung upon the wall, as well 
as the signers of the Constitution of the United States 
and the presidents of the Continental Congress. 

As we have stated. Independence Chamber was first 
occupied by the Pennsylvania Assembly September 15, 
1735. Here the most important legislative proceedings 
during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods occurred. 
It was here that the Quaker stood firm against the de- 
mands of the proprietary governors. Here the fathers 
of our liberty, the Continental Congress, met from 1775 
to 1783, and formulated, adopted, and signed the Magna 
Charta of national independence. It was in this chamber 
that America first drew the breath of freedom, that Amer- 
ican liberty was born ; and here brave men stood firm for 



204 

union and independence, pledging their fortunes and their 
lives in its defense. 

Independence Chamber has been the scene of a multi- 
tude of historic events, of which only a few can be men- 
tioned here. In this hall the citizens of Philadelphia 
assembled on September 1 1, 1764, and, in reply to a mes- 




Banquet hall, Independence H 



sage sent by the people of Massachusetts and Rhode Is- 
land, resolved that no imposition of taxes against natural 
and legal rights was to be allowed. Here three hun- 
dred and seventy-five of the most prominent merchants 
and citizens of Philadelphia signed the Nonimportation Act, 
November 7, 1765. From here the Pennsylvania As- 
sembly sent Franklin to England as their representative in 
1757, again in i 764, and to France in i 776. It was in the 



205 

east room of the Statehouse that the second Continental 
Congress met, and on June i6, i 775, commissioned Colonel 
George Washington commander in chief of the American 
forces. Here, on June 7, i ']']6, Richard Henry Lee of Vir- 
ginia offered his famous resolution for the independence 




Stairway, Independence Hall. 



of the colonies, which resolution was passed in this room 
July 2, 1 776, and its sequel, the Declaration of Independence, 
adopted July 4, and signed by all the members present 
August 2. Here Congress, before they adjourned to meet 
in Baltimore, created the United States by an order dated 
September 9, i ^^6, which reads : "All Continental commis- 
sioners and instruments shall be made to read United 



206 

States where heretofore the words ' United Colonies ' have 
been used." It was in this room that the design for the 
first American flag was adopted by Congress, June 14, 
1777. Here the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual 
Union were signed by eight of the states July 9, 1778, 
and fully ratified March i, 1781. It was in this room that 
Chevalier Conrad Alexandre Gerard, the first accredited 
minister from any foreign power, was formally received 
by Congress August 6, 1778. The Federal Convention 
met in this room from May 14 to September 17, 1787, to 
frame a constitution for the United States of America, 
with General George Washington as presiding officer, and 
here it was engrossed and signed. On November 20 of 
the same year the State convention met in Independence 
Chamber to take action upon and ratify the Federal Con- 
,stitution, approving of the same December 1 3, 1 787. Here 
also in 1 790 met a convention to frame a constitution for 
the State of Pennsylvania, by which the legislature was 
divided into two houses, a Senate and a House of Rep- 
resentatives. Here, on September 17, 1824, Philadelphia 
gave a welcome to Lafayette on his visit to the United 
States. On this occasion he said : '* The great and beau- 
tiful town of Philadelphia, which first welcomed me as a 
recruit, now welcomes me as a veteran." 

In Independence Chamber have been entertained many 
whom the nation has delighted to honor. Here Presi- 
dents Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Jackson, Van Buren, 
Harrison, Polk, Taylor, Pierce, Lincoln, Grant, and Hayes 
received ovations. Here other noted men, such as An- 
thony Wayne, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, and Win- 
field Scott, have been welcomed and have been tendered 



207 

the freedom of the city. Here the ilkistrious and honored 
dead have lain in state, — John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, 
and Abraham Lincoln, — and it was to this room that a 
grateful nation came to mourn their departure. 

In this building may be found the portraits of Penn, 
Washington, Hamilton, Morris, and many other eminent 
men, the original charter of the city, granted by William 
Penn in 1701, a piece of the original treaty tree, and the 
famous old Liberty Bell. 



D>»<C 



INDEPENDENCE SQUARE. 

INDEPENDENCE SQUARE extends from Chestnut 
to Walnut and from Fifth to Sixth streets, and covers 
an area of four and a half acres. Independence Hall, 
Congress Hall, City Hall, and the hall of the American 
Philosophical Society, are located on this square. 

The land was purchased at various times from different 
persons. In 1729 the first purchase of ground was made 
on which to erect the Statehouse. At an early date the 
grounds were ordered to be laid out in walks and planted 
with trees, but nothing was done until after the Revolu- 
tion. In 1783 John Dickinson reminded the Assembl}^ of 
the delayed proposition to improve the grounds, explain- 
ing that it would be '' reputable to the State, particularly 
useful to the inhabitants of the city, and agreeable to 
strangers." Samuel Vaughan took an interest in the adorn- 
ment of the square, and planted choice trees February 28, 
1 785, and in April of the same year one hundred elms were 



208 

planted, the gift of George Morgan of Princeton, New Jer- 
sey. In a few years' time Independence Square became 
the Stateliouse Gardens and the city's fashionable resort. 
In 1 791 the high wall on Fifth and Sixth streets was re- 
placed by an iron fence. In 181 3 the wall on Walnut 
Street was remoxed, and this side of the square was made 
to correspond with the other sides. On the i ith of March, 
1 8 16, the State sold to the city the entire square, reserv- 
ing certain rights to the American Philosophical Society, 
and also to the public, one of which was that it is to be kept 
as a park for the people. The city received its deed for 
Independence Square June 29, 1818, paying for it seventy 
thousand dollars, on the condition that " the same shall be 
and remain a public green and walk forever." On Sep- 
tember 25, 1 85 I, the council of Philadelphia resolved that, 
in the name of the citizens, they would pledge themselves 
** to hold the grounds of Independence Hall free from all 
encroachments upon the monuments to be erected, and to 
guard the same equally with the hall itself as a sacred and 
national trust forever." 

In early times Independence Square was a great meet- 
ing place for Indians, and here large delegations of chiefs 
were received and entertained. These Indians were occa- 
sionally lodged in the east wing of the Statehouse previ- 
ous to 1759, but after this year a long row of sheds was 
erected for their accommodation in the Statehouse yard 
on the south side of Sixth Street. Here many Indian 
chiefs came at various times to hold councils and make 
treaties with the governors. To this place they fled for 
protection from the Paxson boys in i 764. On this ground 
Washington made a treaty with the Indian chief, Corn- 



209 

planter, on January 19, 1791, with Red Jacket on March 
23, 1792, and with Brant on June 21 of the same year; 
and in December, i 796, four sets of Indians dined here four 
days at Washington's expense. 

Independence Square has been the great rallying 
ground for patriots, and here vast assemblies have met to 
assert their rights and to resolve to maintain them. It was 
here, when the war clouds were darkest, that the patriots 
gathered to exchange greetings, renew their faith, and 
listen to the encouraging and eloquent words of freedom 
loving men. On Saturday, October 5, 1765, the ship 
Royal CJiarlottc, containing the obnoxious stamps, rounded 
Gloucester Point, convoyed by a man-of-war, the Sardine. 
The Statehouse bell and the bells of Christ Church were 
muffled and tolled, ships displayed their colors at half- 
mast, and in the afternoon of the same day a mass meet- 
ing was held in the Statehouse yard to take action against 
the landing of these stamps, and to declare the Stamp 
Act unconstitutional, and therefore void. Two days 
later, October 7, the citizens reassembled to hear the 
pledge of the stamp collector, Mr. Hughes, who in a let- 
ter renounced any intention of enforcing the act until 
the other colonies agreed to conform with the law. On 
November 7 of the same year three hundred and seventy- 
five prominent merchants of Philadelphia assembled in the 
Statehouse yard and one by one entered the Statehouse, 
where they signed a document pledging on their honor to 
import no goods until the obnoxious imposts were re- 
moved. Again, on October 16, 1773, an immense con- 
course of people assembled in the Statehouse yard and 

** Resolved, That the disposal of their own property is the 

STO. OF PHIL. — 14 



2IO 

inherent right oi freemen ; that there can be no property 
in that which another can, of right, take from ns without 
our consent; tliat tlie chiim of Parhament to tax America 
is, in other words, a chiim of right to levy contributions on 
us at pleasure. . . . 

** That a virtuous and steady opposition to this Minis- 
terial plan oi governing America is absolutel\' necessary 
to preserve even the shadow of liberty, and is a duty 
which ever}' freeman in America owes to his country, to 
himself, and to his posterity." 

The news reached Philadelphia, December 25, 1773, 
that the tea ship Po//r had arrived off the Delaware, and 
the following notice appeared on the posters at nine 
o'clock on the morning of December 27: ** The tea ship 
having arrived, every inhabitant who wishes to preser\'e 
the liberty of America is desired to meet at the State- 
house, this morning, precisely at ten o'clock, to consider 
what is best to be done in this alarming crisis." Within 
an hour eight thousand people met in Independence 
Square, and in seven peremptory resolutions decided their 
relations with luigland, and settled upon a plan which 
they determined to pursue regarding the tea ship; and in 
the eighth resolution they congratulated Boston, New York, 
and Charleston for having done their duty in " destroying 
the tea rather than suft"er it to be landed." On the i8th 
of June, 1774, a great assembly of citizens met in Inde- 
pendence Square, declared the closing of the port of Boston 
unconstitutional, and proposed a Congress of the ** sister 
cc^lonies." They resolved to assist their distressed breth- 
ren at Ik^ston, and again pledged the city of Philadelphia 
to the common cause of liberty. 



211 

The news of the battle of Lexington and Concord 
reached Philadelphia April 24, 1775, at 5 P. M, The 
next day over eight thousand people assembled in Inde- 
pendence Square, and unanimously agreed " to associate 
for the purpose of defending ivitJi arms their property, 
liberty, and lives." It was in this yard that the first State 
quota was mustered into service for the army of the Revolu- 
tion, in the year i 775. 

On the 20th of May, 1776, notwithstanding a heavy 
rain, an immense town meeting was held in Independence 
Square, to consider "the authority of the people" to 
establish a new government, since " the chartered power 
of the House is derived from our enemy, the King of Great 
Britain; " and here they also resolved "that a provincial 
convention ought to be chosen by the people " to form this 
new government. 

On July 8, 1776, a vast concourse of people assembled 
in the Statehouse yard to hear John Nixon read the Declara- 
tion of Independence. Deborah Norris, the Quakeress, tells 
us that " it was a time of fearful doubt and great anxiety 
with the people, many of whom were appalled by the bold- 
ness of the measure, and the first audience of the Declara- 
tion was neither very numerous nor composed of the most 
respectable class of citizens." Impartial historians tell us, 
however, that the joy of the people was unbounded, and 
that the majority of the citizens were filled with enthusi- 
asm, and were ready to leave their homes to fight for their 
country. From this time on the Statehouse grounds be- 
came known as Independence Square. 

On the northeast corner of Independence Square is City 
Hall. As the visitor passes down Chestnut Street he 



212 

observes on the northwest side of this building a memo- 
rial with the following inscription : 

City Hall 

1791-1854. 

In this Building met 

THE FIRST 

Supreme Court 

— of the — 
United States, 

1791-1800. 
Presided over by 
Chief Justices, 

John Jay, 

John Rutledge 

and 

Oliver Ellsworth. 

Near by is a more recently erected memorial which 

reads : 

The 

City Building. 

1 789-1 79 1 

The back room second floor of this building was 

occupied by the Supreme Court of the United 

States from 1791 to 1800 

In this building the Committee met 1814-1815, 
To provide ways and means for the defense of the 
city in the war of 18 12. In this building, the Com- 
mittee met to provide for the care of the soldiers 
passing through Philadelphia from all parts of the 
Country from the beginning to the close of the war 
for the Union. 

The city Government 
Occupied this Building 

From the time of its erec- 
tion until 1854. 



213 

The mayor, recorder, aldermen, and the council met 
in private houses until 1710, when the ** Towne Hall" 
was built on Market Street, corner of Second Street. 
When the province of Pennsylvania became a State and 
it became apparent that the laws were fixed by a new 
constitutional enactment, a building was ordered to be 
erected, and was set apart March 1 1, 1789, for the mayor, 
recorder, aldermen, and other officers of the city of Phila- 
delphia. Money was lacking to finish the building, and the 
State authorized a lottery to be instituted, and under the 
direction of the mayor of the city, the building was fin- 
ished in I 791. 

City Hall was occupied by the Supreme Court of the 
United States from February 17, 1 791, to August 15, 
1800. The chief justices of this period were John Jay, 
John Rutledge, and Oliver Ellsworth. The Supreme 
Court of the State held its sessions here in 1791; the 
committees of the War of 18 12 and the War of the Rebel- 
lion sat here ; and the mayor and councils of Philadelphia 
used this building until the consolidation of the city in 

1854. 

South of City Hall, on Fifth Street, stands the hall of 
the American Philosophical Society. In this building 
may be seen the Declaration of Independence in Jeffer- 
son's own handwriting, and the chair in which he sat when 
he wrote it ; a clock made by David Rittenhouse stands 
here and is still in excellent order. Many ancient volumes 
once owned by Benjamin Franklin and David Rittenhouse 
are also preserved here. 

The American Philosophical Society as early as 1 768 
petitioned the Assembly of Pennsylvania for aid to erect 



2H 

an observ^atory on the Statehouse grounds in order to 
observe the transit oi Venus, which observation was suc- 
cessfully taken the following year. In September, 1784, 
the society petitioned the legislature of Pennsylvania to 
grant them a location in the Statehouse yard in order to 
erect a commodious building in which to deposit their 
curiosities of ''nature and art." The Assembly granted 
their request March 28, I 785, and the building was finished 
in 1787. 

Closely associated with this society are the names of the 
greatest American scientists, among whom were Ritten- 
house, Franklin, Kinnersley, Wister, Godfrey, and Rush, 
who came to this hall to converse on scientific subjects 
and to offer to the world the results of their investigations. 
Charles W. Peale first opened his museum in the lower floor 
of this building, and exhibited his collection of animals, fish, 
fowls, insects, minerals, and fossils. This was the first mu- 
seum established in the United States and was the begin- 
ning of the first zoological garden. 



3>^C 



THE LIBERTY BELL. 

EARLY on the morning of July 4, 1776, there might 
have been seen an old man, dressed in a Continental 
suit, crossing the Statehouse yard, Philadelphia. This man 
was the janitor of the Statehouse, who was on his way to 
ring the bell which convened the Continental Congress. 
By his side was a little curly-headed, blue-eyed boy, who 
listened very attentively to the earnest words of his com- 



215 




panion. Arriving at the east room, the janitor parted from 
the boy, saying, " Now, mind," and then ascended the 
steps to the belfry. 
Soon the great bell 
clanged out, and groups 
of congressmen rep- 
resenting the thirteen 
colonies filed sedately 
through the hall and 
took their seats in the 
congressional room of 
the Statehouse. Only 
two days before these 
men had resolved that 
they ought to be free, 
and on this morning 
they proposed to de- 
clare to all the world that they were free. The ringing of 
the bell to call together Congress summoned the citizens 
also, who gathered in groups in the Statehouse yard to 
hear the action of Congress. 

Meanwhile the boy was stationed at the door below, 
with instructions to signal the bellman to ring if the 
Declaration passed. The hours rolled by, the crowd 
became impatient, and as the shadows of the Statehouse 
lengthened, the gray-haired veteran sighed, and said, 
"They'll never do it! They'll never do it!" Finally 
the door of the hall opened, and the sergeant-at-arms 
stepped out and whispered to the boy, who, nodding 
assent, bounded up the steps two at a time, and to the 
bellman in the tower he shouted the message, " They've 



Liberty Bell. 



2l6 

signed it — signed it ! Ring! Ring! Ring!" Thrilled 
with emotion, the old man seized the iron tongue of the 
bell and hurled it backward and forward a hundred times, 
his long queue keeping time to its motion. As it rang, 
brave men listened gladly, for it rang out the heart- 
less and hopeless past, and rang in the promise of a help- 
ful and hopeful future. Above the answering chimes of 
** Caspipina " and other distant bells, and above the can- 
non's roar, rose the acclamation of the excited multitude. 
Patriot hearts were filled with joy and hope. At night 
bonfires lighted the streets and beacon lights flashed their 
signals from the hills. Couriers sped over hill and dale, 
and ere morning dawned the bells of distant cities, vil- 
lages, and hamlets joined in the chime of the Liberty Bell. 

But this was not the first great event which the bell had 
announced. * It had hung in the Statehouse tower for over 
a score of years, and had often borne the tidings of mo- 
mentous events to an interested people. Soon after the 
new Statehouse was completed the Assembly of Penn- 
sylvania resolved to have a bell. A committee was ap- 
pointed, October i6, 1751, with Isaac Norris, president of 
the Assembly, as chairman. They decided to have a bell 
cast in London which should weigh about two thousand 
pounds and cost about five hundred dollars. An inscrip- 
tion was to be placed on the bell as follows : " By order 
of the Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania, for the 
State-House in the city of Philadelphia, 1752." Under- 
neath this sentence was to be the motto, selected by Isaac 
Norris: " Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all 
the inhabitants thereof. (Lev. xxv. 10.) " 

The bell was brought over in the ship Matilda, August, 



217 

1752, by Captain Budden, the same man who brought 
over the bells for Christ Church, The bell is five feet in 
diameter at the lip ; its weight is two thousand eighty 
pounds. A few days after its arrival it was hung up to 
try the tone. On this occasion the " superintendents had 
the mortification to hear that it was cracked by a stroke of 
the clapper without any violence." They proposed to send 
it back to England, but Captain Budden could not take it 
at that time, so Pass and Stow, two ingenious workmen of 
Philadelphia, undertook to recast it. Mr. Norris writes 
March 16, 1753: "I am just now informed that they 
[Pass and Stow] have this day opened the mold and have 
got a good bell, which, I confess, pleases me very much 
that we should first venture upon and succeed in the 
greatest bell cast, for aught I know, in English America." 
This bell was placed in the Statehouse tower early in 
June, 1753, by Edward Wooley, and for so doing the 
province paid him the sum of £^ \'^s. lod. 

In the spring of 1757 the bell convened the Assembly 
which sent Franklin to England. When George III. was 
crowned King of England, the Assembly hoped the new 
king would correct the old abuses, and on February 21, 
I 761, the bell was rung to proclaim him king. 

Several ^^ears later, September 12, 1764, it entered 
upon an active career of patriotism, and from this time on 
it gave constant expression to protests and proclamations. 
On that date it called the Assembly together to consider 
the repeal of the Stamp Act and on the 22d it announced 
a protest against the Sugar Act. 

On September 9, 1765^ the bell convened the Assembly 
which resolved to send delegates to the famous Stamp 



2l8 

Act Congress, soon to meet in New York. Notwith- 
standing the protest of this congress, the king signed 
the Stamp Act, and sent ships with stamps to America. 
The stamps intended for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and 
Maryland were placed on board the ship Royal Charlotte, 
which came up the Delaware River, guarded by a man-of- 
war named the Sardine. When the ships arrived at Phila- 
delphia, October 5, 1765, thousands gathered at the State- 
house at the call of the bell, and resolved that the stamps 
should not be landed. On October 31, the day the Stamp 
Act was to go into effect, the bell was muffled and tolled. 
The people met secretly, and seizing the stamps, burned 
them publicly. When the Stamp Act was repealed, March 
18, 1766, the bell rang out the note of approval, and joy 
was universal. 

On February 4, 1 771, it again convened the Assembly, 
which sent a warning to the king, and a petition requesting 
that the duty on tea be removed. But to this no heed was 
paid. When the ship Polly arrived with the detested tea, 
every patriot was aroused, and the largest assembly the 
bell had ever summoned gathered at the Statehouse De- 
cember 27, 1773. At this meeting a committee was ap- 
pointed to wait upon Captain Ayres of the ship Polly, and 
hand him a letter containing these words : 

" Pennsylvanians are to a man passionately fond of 
freedom, the birthright of Americans, and at all events 
are determined to enjoy it. . . . 

"What think you, captain, of a halter around your neck, 
ten gallons of liquid tar decanted on your pate, with the 
feathers of a dozen wild geese laid over that to enliven 
your appearance? 



219 

'' Fly to the place from whence you came. Fly with- 
out hesitation, without the formality of a protest, and, 
above all. Captain Ayres, let us advise you to fly without 
the wild-geese feathers." 

Though the captain was a brave man, he concluded that 
"discretion was the better part of valor," and "on the 
very next day," Captain Ayres and his tea ship Polly left 
Arch Street Wharf and sailed down the Delaware with the 
sails spread for England. 

Then came the notice of the closing of the port of Bos- 
ton, June I, 1774. With muffled voice the bell tolled forth 
its sorrow and sympathy, and on June 18, 1774, the bell 
convened the 'Philadelphia patriots who promised aid, and 
in the winter of 1774-75 they sent two thousand five hun- 
dred forty pounds in gold to the sufferers for liberty's sake. 

Late in the evening of the 24th of April, 1775, a horse- 
man, Paul Revere by name, dashed down the streets of 
Philadelphia and stopped at the City Tavern, bringing with 
him the news of the battle of Lexington. On the follow- 
ing day, April 25, the bell announced the opening of hos- 
tilities, and the " eight thousand people by computation, 
who had assembled in the yard," felt that war was inevi- 
table, and then and there they unanimously agreed " to 
associate for the purpose of defending ivitJi arms their 
property, liberty, and lives." Thus the Statehouse bell 
announced the first battle of the American Revolution. 

On the 7th of June, 1776, the bell summoned that Con- 
gress in which Richard Henry Lee offered his famous 
resolution for the union and independence of the colonies, 
and late in the afternoon of the 4th of July the bell an- 
nounced the Declaration of Independence. On the 8th 



220 

of July, as the sun neared the meridian, the bell pealed 
forth its solemn tones, and Congress, the State officials, the 
military and civic bodies, formed in line in the Statehouse 
yard. As the bell ceased tolling, John Nixon, a soldier, 
took up the Declaration and read it in strong, clear tones, 
which could be heard a square away. Cheers arose from 
the multitude, and the Statehouse bell pealed forth its 
glad notes in an anthem of joy and praise. 

On September 26, 1776, the bell called together the 
Assembly that witnessed the ending of the proprietary 
government. The following September the bell was 
removed to Allentown, about fifty-eight miles from Phila- 
delphia, to prevent its falling into the hands of the British. 
When they evacuated the city the bell was brought back. 

On October 24, 1781, the Statehouse bell was rung at 
twelve o'clock noon to announce to the people ** the surren- 
der of Lord Cornwallis to the confederate arms of the United 
States and France." Amid the discharge of artillery, and 
with the other bells of the city ringing in unison, its voice was 
heard in paeans of national triumph. The dramatic history of 
the Revolution could not, however, heroically close until the 
bell announced the proclamation of peace, April 16, 1783. 

The Liberty Bell had now become famous. Men in 
their pilgrimages stopped to gaze upon it with reverence. 
It, however, no longer rang, except on special occasions. 
Every Fourth of July, every anni\-ersary of Washington's 
birthday, on every visit of the illustrious Sons of Liberty to 
the city of Philadelphia, it united with the voice of the peo- 
ple. On November 27, i 781, it gave a hearty welcome to 
General and Lady Washington. On July 4, 1788, it an- 
nounced the establishment of the Constitution of the 



221 

United States. On July 4, 1824, it sounded the birth of 
the Democratic Society. On September 29 of the same 
year it mingled its tones with the martial strains of music, 
with the cheering of the populace, and with the roar of -a 
hundred cannon, as Lafayette, leaving his barouche amid 
the throngs of people, waving flags, and arches of flowers, 
ascended the carpeted stairs of Independence Hall to 
receive the welcome of a grateful republic. 

On July 4, 1826, the "Sage of Monticello" and the 
"Colossus of Massachusetts," namely, Thomas Jefferson 
and John Adams, lay dead. Strange coincidence! Just 
fifty years before these patriots had signed the immortal 
Declaration, and the bell that had so joyously announced 
this act, tolled their requiem. 

The last time its voice was heard on an Independence 
day was July 4, 1831, when "the young men of the city 
rang the old Statehouse bell to commemorate the day of 
our Independence." On February 22, 1832, it rang to 
commemorate the centennial birthday of Washington, and 
also tolled to announce the death of Charles Carroll of 
CarroUton, who had been the last surviving signer of the 
Declaration of Independence. Then came the news that 
Lafayette, who had heard its iron tongue welcome him, 
was no more, and it summoned a mourning people to com- 
memorate the deeds and memory of that hero. 

Chief Justice Marshall died July 6, 1835. Two days 
later, as the funeral cortege moved slowly in the solemnity 
of the occasion, followed by the faltering steps of the ven- 
erable Bishop White, and while the bell was solemnly toll- 
ing, its side was suddenly rent asunder, and its powerful 
voice broke in a half sob and was silenced forever. 



CHRISTOPHER LUDWIG. 

CHRISTOPHER LUDWIG was the first ginger- 
bread baker in Philadelphia. He lived in Letitia 
Court, near Second and Market streets. He made ginger- 
bread in the forms of animals, and these were the first prints 
of the kind used in Philadelphia. It was a novel idea, 
and we read that he sold great quantities of ginger-bread 
to the city people, as well as to the country folk. 

Christopher Ludwig was born in Germany, on the 
Upper Rhine, on the 17th of October, 1720. He be- 
came a private soldier in the army of the emperor when 
seventeen years old, and served in many wars. He also 
made voyages to Holland, Ireland, and the West Indies 
as a common sailor, and it was while thus employed 
that he conceived the idea of visiting America. He 
bought one hundred and twenty-five dollars' worth of 
ready-made clothing, and sailed for Philadelphia, arriv- 
ing in the year 1753. Selling his goods at a profit of 
three hundred dollars, he returned to London in order 
to learn the confectionery business. 

At the expiration of his apprenticeship he returned to 
Philadelphia, and opened a bakery in Letitia Court. 
His business thrived for more than twenty years, and 
he was noted for his honesty, punctualit)'. and industry. 
Meanwhile he became wealthy ; he owned nine houses 
in the city and a farm near Germantown, and had seven- 
teen thousand five hundred dollars at interest. He was 
respected by his neighbors for his justice and kindness, and 
they gave him the title of the " Governor of Letitia Court." 



223 

He was elected one of the Provincial Deputies July 15, 
1774. He was also sent as a delegate to the Provincial 
Convention, January 23-28, 1775, and on the i8th of 
January, 1776, he served as a member of the Provincial 
Conference, held at Carpenters' Hall. 

By this time Christopher Ludwig had tasted the sweets 
of freedom, and found in the liberal laws of Pennsylvania 
every means for wealth and happiness that could be 
desired. When Great Britain, in 1774, attempted to 
subjugate the American colonies, his soldier spirit took 
fire, and he volunteered his life and fortune in the cause 
of independence. On one occasion, when General Mifflin 
proposed in the Assembly to raise money by private sub- 
scription to purchase firearms and ammunition, there was 
considerable objection to the measure. Mr. Ludwig at 
length arose, and in broken English said : ** Mr. President, 
I am nichts more as a shingerbreat baker, but put down 
alt Ludwig for two hundred pounds." All objection was 
silenced, the motion was carried by a unanimous vote, and 
a liberal subscription was raised. 

Ludwig was foremost among the citizens to resist Brit- 
ish injustice. In the summer of 1776 he entered the 
American army, serving on dangerous posts, refusing pay 
for his service, and striving to imbue his companions with 
the love of freedom both by word and deed. On one 
occasion the commanding officer permitted him to act as 
a spy, and he went to New York disguised as a deserter 
from the American army, and visited the Hessian camp 
at Staten Island. His glowing description of the com- 
fort, wealth, and independence of their countrymen, the 
German Pennsylvania farmers, so captivated the Hessian 



224 

soldiers that many were anxious to desert the ranks of 
the British to become freemen and Hve in such a land of 
plenty as the Pennsylvania described by Ludwig. On 
another occasion when eight Hessian prisoners were 
brought into the American camp, a question arose as to 
what should be done with them. Ludwig said : " Let 
us take them to Philadelphia and there show them our fine 
German churches. Let them see how our tradesmen eat 
good beef, drink out of silver cups every day, and ride out 
in chairs every afternoon, and then let us send them back 
to their countrymen, and they will soon run away and come 
and settle in our city, and be as good Whigs as any of us." 

For some time complaints had reached Congress as to 
the quality and quantity of bread furnished to the Ameri- 
can army. The militia had become so dissatisfied with 
their rations that they time and again threatened to desert 
the cause. Hearing of the dissatisfaction, Ludwig went 
hastily to the camp, and falling upon his knees, offered the 
following petition : " Brother soldiers, listen for one 
minute to Christopher Ludwig. When we hear the cry 
of fire in Philadelphia, on the hill at a distance from us, 
we fly there with our buckets to keep it from our houses. 
So let us keep the great fire of the British army from our 
town. In a. few days you shall have good bread, and 
enough of it." The soldiers were appeased, knowing his 
patriotic disposition and his determination to aid the 
cause in every honorable way. In order to afford relief 
to the suffering army the following resolution was issued: 

"In Congress, May 3d, 1777, 

" Resolved, That Christopher Ludwick be, and is hereby 
appointed Superintendent of Bakers and Director of Baking 



225 

in the army of the United States ; and that he shall have 
power to engage, by permission of the Commander in 
Chief, or officer commanding at any principal post, all per- 
sons to be employed in his business, and to regulate their 
pay, making proper report of his proceedings, and using his 
best endeavors to rectify all abuses in the article of bread ; 

" That no person be permitted to exercise the trade of 
baker in the said army without such license ; and that he 
receive for his services herein, an allowance of 75 dollars a 
month and two rations a day." 

Congress then sent a committee to notify Christopher 
Ludwig that he was appointed baker general of the 
American army. This committee suggested that for 
every pound of flour, he should furnish the army with a 
pound of bread. Ludwig was indignant, and said : ** No, 
gentlemen, I will not accept of your commission upon any 
such terms. I do not wish to grow rich by the war: I 
have money enough. I will furnish one hundred and 
thirty- five pounds of bread for every hundred pounds of 
flour you put into my hands." 

Christopher Ludwig w^as a great favorite with Wash- 
ington, who introduced him as his " honest friend." He 
frequently dined with him, and together they held long 
conferences about supplies for the army. After the sur- 
render of Yorktown Washington ordered him to bake six 
thousand pounds of bread, and said : " Let it be good, 
' Old Gentleman,' and let there be enough of it, if I should 
want myself." 

Ludwig was a welcome guest with every patriot. His 
stiff military bearing and his war-scarred features made a 
lasting impression on all who saw him. His broken Eng- 

STO. OF PHIL. — 15 



226 

lish, eccentric ideas, and witty expressions were sure to 
brighten any company, and his great fund of pleasing an- 
ecdotes, told in tones that sounded like the echo of a fog 
horn, always changed sadness into mirth. His large china 
punch bowl and his standing toast were well known to the 
army. This bowl was bound with a rim of silver, on which 
was engraved his name and the year he bought it. When 
he drank out of it he gave the following toast : 

"Health and long life 

To Christopher Ludwick and his wife." 

At the close of the Revolutionary War Ludwig re- 
turned to his farm near Germantown. He found that 
his house had been plundered by the British, and his 
Continental money had so depreciated in value that he 
had scarcely enough to buy food. He had no sheets to 
lie upon, but he would not go in debt for them, so for six 
weeks he slept on his army blankets. Finally he sold 
some real estate, and was then enabled to replace his 
clothing and household goods. When Washington heard 
of his losses he wrote the following certificate, which Lud- 
wig regarded as of greater value than all the property he 
had lost, and which he framed and hung in his parlor as 
his patriotic diploma : 

" I have known Christopher Ludwick from an early 
period in the war, and have every reason to believe, as 
well from observation as information, that he has been a 
true and faithful ser\'ant to the public ; that he has detected 
and exposed many impositions, which were attempted to 
be practiced by others in his department ; that he has been 



227 

the cause of much saving in many respects; and that his 
deportment in public Hfe, has afforded unquestionable 
proofs of his integrity and worth. 

" With respect to his personal losses I have no personal 
knowledge, but have heard that he has suffered from his 
zeal in the cause of his country. 

" Geo. Washington. 

''April 25, 1785." 

In 1796 Mrs. Ludwig died, and was buried in the 
Lutheran graveyard, Germantovvn. She had always fa- 
vored the patriots' cause, and had encouraged her husband 
in his benevolent enterprises. Christopher Ludwig, sad 
and lonely, moved back to Philadelphia. When the yellow 
fever broke out in this city in the year 1798, he volun- 
teered to assist in the making of bread for free distribution 
among the poor. 

In this year, when Ludwig was seventy-seven years of 
age, he met Mrs. Sophia Binder, a prudent woman, who 
told him she felt concerned about his loneliness as a wid- 
ower. She offered to be his wife if he thought they could 
live happily together. He said he would " take it into 
a short consideration." Evidently he thought favorably 
of the proposition, for they were married soon afterwards. 
The last two years of his life were spent in visiting his 
friends, relieving distress, and in pious meditation. His 
great respect for religion was inherited from his father, 
who gave him in early life a silver medal upon which 
was inscribed, among other devices, " The blood of Christ 
cleanseth from all sin." He had this coin affixed to 
the lid of a silver tankard, on the front of which he had 
inscribed the motto, " May the religious industry and 



228 

courage of a German parent be the inheritance of his 
issue." 

Shortly after the death of Washington some one asked 
him to buy a copy of the " Life of Washington." " No," he 
said, " I will not ; I am traveling fast to meet him. I will 
then hear all about it from his own mouth." On January 
14, 1 80 1, he requested his wife to read a sermon to him. 
When she finished reading he said : " You will never read 
to me again on a Sunday ; before next Sunday I shall be 
no more." Three days later the old patriot died, breath- 
ing a gentle prayer as his spirit took flight to his great 
commander. The press noticed his death in the following 
obituary: "Died, on the evening of the 17th instant, in 
the eightieth year of his age. CJiristopJicr Lndz^'ick, baker 
general of the army of the United States during the 
Revolutionary War." 

Christopher Ludwig was truly benevolent, and dis- 
posed of his estate with rare judgment. After making 
certain family bequests, he set aside five hundred pounds 
for the German Reformed Church in Philadelphia, this 
sum to be used for the education of poor children. To 
the Pennsylvania Hospital he gave one hundred pounds, 
and to the Guardians of the Poor two hundred pounds. 
The remainder of his estate, consisting of about three 
thousand pounds, was to be used for the education of 
poor children, provided that a free school be established 
within five years, and if this was not done the money 
should be distributed among specified churches. 

The life of Christopher Ludwig was marked by a 
variety of incidents, interesting to every class of read- 
ers. Throughout his whole career he was distinguished 



229 

for his good common sense, strict probity, great benev- 
olence, and fearless activity in asserting the cause of 
public and private justice. His remains were conveyed 
from his residence. No. i 74 North Fifth Street, Philadel- 
phia, to Germantown, and interred by the side of his first 
wife in the Lutheran Cemetery. The closing words of 
the lengthy epitaph are as follows : 

" Reader, such was Ludwick. 
Art thou poor. Venerate his character; 
Art thou rich, Imitate his example." 



3>^C 



LYDIA DARRAH. 



PROMINENT among the brave womanly spirits who 
lived in the time of the American Revolution was 
Lydia Darrah of Philadelphia. Her husband, William 
Darrah, was a school-teacher, and Lydia was a nurse, widely 
known through- 
out the city for 
her tender sym- 
pathy and kind- 
ness. They w^ere 
both members of 
the Society of 
Friends. Dur- 
ing the winter 
of 1777-78 they 
lived in a house The Loxley House. 




230 

commonly known as the Loxley house, at the corner of 
South Second and Little Dock streets, a building which 
tradition and history have made famous. 

When the British army occupied Philadelphia, General 
Howe, commander in chief, with other officers, had his head- 
quarters in the Cadwalader house, directly opposite the 
home of Lydia Darrah. The British adjutant general fre- 
quently held private conferences with his superior officers 
of the army, in a back room of the Darrah house. This 
place was selected, no doubt, on account of its convenience 
and seclusion, and because of the quiet habits of the occu- 
pants, whose religion taught them *' forbearance and meek- 
ness," and forbade them to engage in war. 

In the gray twilight of a winter day, December 2, 1777, 
it is said that the adjutant general hastily ascended the 
steps of the Darrah home, and requested Lydia to have the 
council chamber comfortable and well lighted by seven 
o'clock that evening. " And be sure," he continued em- 
phatically, " that your family are all in bed at an early 
hour. I shall expect you to attend to this request. When 
our guests are ready to leave the house, I will myself give 
you notice, that you may let us out and extinguish the 
fire and candles." 

Lydia assented and made ready for the reception. 
While her hands were busy her mind was busy also. 
The more she thought over the strict injunction of the 
British officer to have all the household in bed at an 
early hour, the more confident she felt that the meeting 
meant harm to the American cause. She determined to 
learn the secret of so important a conference. After all 
was in readiness she succeeded, without awakening the 



231 

least suspicion, in getting her family to bed at an early 
hour. Then admitting the guests, she retired to her own 
room, and, without undressing, threw herself upon the bed. 
But Lydia Darrah did not sleep. Unable to control 
her anxiety, she arose, and slipping off her shoes, stole 
noiselessly along the hall to the door of the officers' room. 
She listened at the keyhole, but heard only a confusion of 
voices. Then followed a long silence, broken by an officer 
reading in clear, distinct tones the order of General Howe 
to have the British troops under arms by dusk on the even- 
ing of the 4th, and under cover of darkness to surprise 
Washington's camp at White Marsh. 

This was enough. With trembling limbs Lydia stole 
away as noiselessly as she had come, fearing lest they might 
hear even the beating of herheart. What should she do with 
this important information? How could she forward it to 
Washington ? She had scarcely reached her room and 
regained her composure when a knock was heard upon 
her door, but she feigned to be asleep. Again and again 
the officer knocked, until she finally answered the summons 
with a yawn, and then rising, quickly slipped on her shoes 
and dismissed her guests. 

•Returning to her room, she spent a sleepless night. She 
thought of the danger to which the American cause and 
army were exposed, and of the thousands of lives that 
might be sacrificed. She alone must warn Washington ; 
she could trust no one with such a secret, but must perform 
the mission herself. At last she thought of a plan by 
which the desired result might be accomplished. After 
praying for heavenly guidance, she firmly resolved, at 
whatever hazard, to carry the plan into effect. 



232 

When the morning dawned she awoke her husband and 
said : " William, we must have flour to-day, and I must go 
for it." Her husband replied : " Why, Lydia, thee cannot 
go to Frankford through this cold and snow and carry 
twenty-five pounds of flour five miles! Thee had better 
send the maid." But Lydia objected, saying that the 
maid could not be spared from her domestic duties. So 




"She asked the colonel to alight." 

William went to his school, and Lydia, with a flour sack 
and a permit from General Howe to pass the British lines, 
started for Frankford. 

Arriving at the mill, Lydia left her sack to be filled, and 
pressed forward with all haste toward the outposts of the 



American army. Soon she met Lieutenant Colonel Craig, 
a scout, who had been sent out by Washington for informa- 
tion. The colonel recognized the Quakeress as his friend, 
and inquired where she was going. She answered : " In 
quest of my son, who, you know, is an officer in the 
American army." Then she asked the colonel to alight 
and walk with her, which he did, ordering his men to keep 
safe guard. To Colonel Craig Lydia told her secret, and 
obtained from him the solemn pledge that he would never 
betray her, as it might bring injury to her family. 

Hastening back to the mill, she procured the sack of flour, 
and started on her homeward journey. Feeling assured 
that Washington would hear of the enemy's design in time 
to order his troops for defense, she took courage, and as 
she trudged on with thankful heart, her burden seemed to 
lighten. She reached home in good time, and without 
arousing a shadow of suspicion. How could any one sus- 
pect for one moment that this demure and peaceful Qua- 
keress could have snatched victory from the English and 
saved the American army from an unexpected attack and 
certain defeat? 

On her return home she resumed her daily duties, but 
time hung heavily. Hour by hour she stood by the 
window watching and waiting to see the British army 
leave the city. The night of the 4th came ; the Brit- 
ish soldiers fell silently into line, the dark columns 
faded away in the gloom, and at last the sound of the 
soldiers' footsteps and the tramp of the horses' hoofs 
could no longer be heard. On the morning of the 5th 
the drums were beating at Edge Hill, and the sound of 
the cannon came over the snow to Philadelphia, telling 



234 

Lydia that the troops were in action. Three days later 
the British army, weary and discouraged, marched back 
to their headquarters at Philadelphia, having found Wash- 
ington prepared against attack at all points. 

The British officers queried among themselves, " Who 
has been the traitor? Who has played the spy? Was our 
secret betrayed by the people of the Darrah house? It 
must be even so." The adjutant general hastened to his 
quarters and demanded an interview with Mrs. Darrah. 
Lydia feared that the secret had been betrayed, but calmly 
resolved to obey the summons. Once within the room, 
the officer locked the door, and turning to Mrs. Darrah, 
sternly demanded an answer to this question : " Were any 
of your family up, Lydia, on the night when I received 
company in this house?" "No," was the confident 
reply; "they all retired at eight o'clock." The adjutant 
general was dumfounded, and musing, said : " It is 
strange, very strange. Voi/, I know, Lydia, were asleep, 
for I knocked at your door three times before you heard 
me ; yet it is certain that we were betrayed. I am alto- 
gether at a loss to conceive who could have given the 
information of our intended attack to General Washington. 
On arriving near his encampment we found his cannon 
mounted, his troops under arms, and so prepared at every 
point to receive us that we have been compelled to march 
back without injuring our enemy, like a parcel of fools." 



235 



THE BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN. 

AMONG all the battles of the American Revolution 
/~\ there are few which were fought with greater mili- 
tary skill than the battle of Germantown. The time at 
which this battle occurred was a critical period in the 
nation's history. Less than a month had elapsed since the 
Americans had been defeated at the battle of Brandy wine, 
where they had lost all their tents, blankets, and provi- 
sions. They were, therefore, ill clothed and scantily fed ; 
hundreds were barefoot, and discomfort and discontent 
pervaded the army. Patriots were discouraged. The 
Tories were active ; their treachery had led to the massacre 
at Paoli less than a fortnight before. Howe had outwitted 
Washington, crossed the Schuylkill River, and encamped 
the main body of his troops at Germantown. Lord Corn- 
wallis was in possession of Philadelphia, the American cap- 
ital. Congress was disagreeing on the most vital national 
questions. ^ In agony the stout-hearted John Adams 
prayed : ** O Heaven, grant us one great soul ; one leading 
mind would extricate the best cause from that ruin which 
seems to await it ! " Parson Muhlenberg, resigning all hope, 
cried out in despair: " Now, Pennsylvania, bend thy neck, 
and prepare to meet the Lord thy God!" " I confess," 
wrote Robert Morris, "things look gloomy." Washing- 
ton, however, said: "I will not despair." The unfalter- 
ing courage of the commander in chief reassured his troops, 
and they pressed forward until, as Count de Vergennes said, 
the little army of Americans, gathered together within a 
year's time, promised everything. 



236 

At this time Gennantown was inhabited b\- a very 
peaceful German people, many of whom were opposed to 
war. It was a quaint and pretty town. Its main street 
was about two miles long- and sixty feet wide, and was 
lined on either side with fruit trees. Frontini^' the main 
street were ancient stone houses built on thr<.^e-acre lots. 




:cu Hcuse 



which Pastorius had laid out nearly a hundred years before. 
A market house stood in the south end of the town, in the 
middle oi the street, a short distance south of the junction 
of the Mill Lane Road with the Germantown Road. This 
was the center of the British line of forces during their 
encampment at Germantown. 

There were also three lars^e mansions in Germantown at 



237 



this time, which served as headquarters for the British 
officers : the Chew house, or CHveden, the scene of the 
thickest of the fight ; the Wister house, or Grumblethorpe, 
the headquarters of General Agnew, and the place where 
he was carried after the battle, mortally wounded ; and the 
Stenton house, the headquarters of General Howe during 
his encampment in Germantown. These houses are still 
standing as silent witnesses of the battle of Germantown, 
and they are known throughout the United States as land- 
marks of the American Revolution. 

Howe's army, consisting at this time of about ten thou- 
sand available troops, lay within a peninsula and con- 
trolled all of Philadelphia and all of Germantown. His 
forces were defended on the southwest by the Schuylkill 
River, and on the southeast by the Delaware River. 
South of Philadelphia, on the Delaware River, were three 
forts commanded by the 
Americans. They had also 
an obstruction of chevaux-de- 
frise to prevent vessels loaded 
with provisions from coming 
up the river. Immediately 
below these forts lay a fleet 
under the command of Ad- 
miral Howe, General Howe's 
brother. To aid his brother 
in coming up the Delaware, 
General Howe resolved to 
send troops to destroy the 
American forts, break the blockade, and thus secure for 
him supplies and soldiers. He wrote to his brother of 




|^\%V 



General Howe. 



238 

his intention, but the courier was captured and the letter 
delivered to General Washington. Having posted the 
main part of his army at Germantown, General Howe 
ordered his reserve forces under Lord Cornwallis, which 
were encamped at Philadelphia, to attack the forts while 
he held Washington at bay on the north. 

Howe's army at Germantown consisted of two wings. 
The left wing extended from the west side of the Ger- 
mantown Road, south of School Lane, westward to the 
Schuylkill River, and was under the command of Lieu- 
tenant General Knyphausen. This wing was in three 
divisions, the Hessians, the Yagers, and the Third and 
Fourth Brigades. The right wing extended from the east 
side of the Germantown Road, south of Church Lane, 
northeastward to the Limekiln Road, and was under 
command of General Grant and Brigadier General Mat- 
thew. This wing was in four divisions, the Guards, the 
Queen's Rangers, the Dragoons, and the Light Infantry. 
General Grant placed the First Battalion of Light Infantry 
two and one half miles out on the Limekiln Road to pro- 
tect the pickets. Farther north, on the Germantown 
Road, opposite the Chew house, was stationed the For- 
tieth Regiment, under Colonel Musgrave. Still farther 
north, on the same road, beyond Mount Pleasant, lay the 
Second Battalion of Light Infantry, to protect the pickets 
at Mount Airy. Although Howe's forces were thus ex- 
tended, they could easily be concentrated at the market 
house, Germantown. 

At this time, September 28, 1777, Washington and the 
officers under his immediate command were holding a 
council of war on the banks of the Perkiomen, thirty miles 



239 

away at Pennypacker's Mills, now Schwenksville. His 
forces consisted of eight thousand Continental troops 
and three thousand militia drawn from the thirteen colo- 
nies. Washington and his officers were anxiously await- 
ing the report of General Gates, who was at Peekskill on 
the Hudson ready to give battle to Burgoyne. On re- 
ceiving the news of the battle of Bemis Heights, the 
Americans were in good spirits. Being assured that Bur- 
goyne would be defeated, the commander in chief of the 
American army hoped to have the forces under General 
Gates to aid him in defending the forts on the Delaware. 
He said : " If these can be maintained, General Howe's 
situation will not be the most agreeable ; for if his 
supplies can be stopped by water, it may easily be done 
by land. To do both shall be my utmost endeavor; and 
I am not without hope that the acquisition of Philadelphia 
may, instead of his good fortune, prove his ruin." To 
prevent General Howe from sending troops to attack the 
forts, Washington resolved to surprise Howe at Ger- 
mantown. Howe heard of it, but paid no attention to the 
rumor. He said : ** I do not believe that after the drubbing 
the Americans received at Brandywine they will hazard 
another battle." 

Having carefully prepared his plans to attack the enemy 
at Germantown, Washington set his army in motion Sep- 
tember 29, 1777, and moved down to Skippack Creek and 
thence on to the Metuchen hills. On the morning of 
October 3, 1777, he began to throw up intrenchments as 
though he intended to make a stand, but it was only a 
feint to deceive the enemy. From here he sent out Gen- 
eral Porter with a body of militia, to appear on the morn- 



240 

ing of the 4th, at five o'clock, on the west bank of the 
Schuylkill River at Market Street Ferry, and there make a 
pretense of crossing. Porter was ordered to fire cannon, 
and thus divert the attention of the British at Philadelphia. 
A like demonstration was to be made on the Jersey shore. 

The main body of the American army was arranged into 
four columns; each division was to follow one of the four 
main roads leading into the city. Generals Smallwood and 
Foreman were ordered to take the White Marsh Road to 
the Old York Road and attack the rear and flank of Howe's 
extreme right. Generals Greene and Stephens were to 
enter the Limekiln Road and attack the enemy front and 
right at the market house, Germantown. General Arm- 
strong was to pass south on the Ridge Road and engage 
the enemy's extreme left at the mouth of the Wissa- 
hickon. Generals Sullivan and Wayne, flanked by 
Conway, were to enter Germantown by way of Chestnut 
Hill. By 6 P.M., October 3, 1777, the entire army was 
in motion, with General Greene and his forces in advance. 
The army was instructed to move within two miles of the 
enemy's outposts on the 4th, and attack the pickets at 
5 A.M. The pickets were to be taken off by bayonets, 
but not by firing. The attack was to be made as quietly 
and quickly as possible. The different commands were to 
keep up communication by messengers on horseback. 
Each man was to wear a piece of white paper in his cap 
in order to distinguish friend from foe. 

All night long the troops marched on. The road was 
uneven; the night was dark and portended rain. The 
silence was broken only b}' the measured tread of the sol- 
diers and the rumble of the caissons over the stony road. 



241 



As the night wore away and the morning dawned, the 
heart of Washington beat high with hope, for his army 
had reached the British hnes without being discovered. 

The army was now ready to make the attack. The 
American scout, Captain Allen McLane of the Light Horse 
Cavalry, and two regiments of infantry pushed forward to 
capture or kill the British sentries stationed at Mount 
Airy. The sentries were killed, but not before an alarm 
was given. The British soldiers sprang to their feet, seized 
their guns, and buckled on their swords. A small battery 
opened upon McLane with two six-pounders, but gave 
way and fell back upon the Second Battalion of British 
Light Lifantry for support. General Conway immediately 
attacked them, but met with spirited resistance. Conway 
and Sullivan now drew up their brigades for action. 
Wayne's division arriving, Sullivan ordered two regiments 
of infantry and one of cavalry to re- 
inforce Conway. Wayne early in 
the engagement charged with the 
bayonet, and the British retreated, 
fighting obstinately, "making a stand 
at every fence, wall, and ditch," leav- 
ing their encampment, baggage, and 
tents in the hands of Wayne, who 
pursued them with the battle cry of 
"Remember Paoli!" while his offi- 
cers cried out, " Have at the blood- 
hounds! Revenge the Wayne af- 
fair! " It was this very body of Light Lifantry which mas- 
sacred Wayne's men at Paoli, and now the Americans 
bayoneted them without mercy. 




General Wayne. 



STO. OF PHIL. 



i6 



242 

Colonel Musgrave of the Fortieth Regiment, stationed at 
the Chew house, moved forward to support the British Light 
Infantry, and found them retreating. General Howe, hear- 
ing the firing, quickly mounted his horse, and hastening to 
the front, found his troops retreating. '' For shame. Light 
Infantry! " he cried. *' I never saw you retreat before." 
But as the grapeshot scattered the leaves above his head, 




The Chev/ House. 



he turned his horse and galloped back to camp to order up 
more troops. Colonel Musgrave retreated with six com- 
panies of the Fortieth Regiment, and entering the Chew 
house, barricaded it. From the windows of the house 
a few shots were fired at the American troops under Gen- 
erals Sullivan and Wayne but they pressed on. It was 



243 

near the Chew house that General Nash, commander of 
a North CaroHna regiment, was struck by a shot from 
the British artillery. The shot fractured his thigh, and 
at the same time killed his horse. " The fall of the ani- 
mal threw its unfortunate rider with considerable force to 
the ground. With surpassing courage and presence of 
mind General Nash, covering his wounds with both hands, 
gayly called to his men : ' Never mind me, I have had a 
devil of a tumble ; rush on, my boys ; rush on the enemy ; 
I'll be after you presently ! ' Human nature could do no 
more. Faint from loss of blood, the sufferer was borne to 
a house hard by and attended by Dr. Craik, by special 
order of the commander in chief." 

When General Washington came up with Lord Stir- 
ling's reserve corps a group of his officers held a consul- 
tation about attacking the Chew house. General Knox 
insisted that it was contrary to all military rules to leave 
a garrisoned castle in the rear and that they should be 
summoned to surrender. Lieutenant Colonel Smith, a 
young Virginia staff officer, was sent with a flag of truce 
and a drum to request a surrender of the house, but was 
immediately shot. General Maxwell, with his brigade 
and four pieces of six-pounders, was ordered to begin 
the siege. The ca'nnon balls, made but little impression 
upon the substantial stone walls. In this engagement 
Maxwell lost forty-six officers and men. Finding that 
they could not destroy the Chew house, the bravest of 
them proposed to set fire to the house. Major White, 
one of the volunteers, lit a brand and held it to the house ; 
but a British soldier who was on the alert fired a fatal 
shot, and the brave American officer fell dead. 



244 

A brigade from General Stephens's command coming 
in from the Limekiln Road, having been lost in the fog, and 
hearing the firing at the Chew house, pressed on till they 
arrived there. This was Woodford's brigade, the first to 
reach the scene of action from the east. They immediately 
opened fire upon the rear of the house without orders. 
This attack also was without effect. 

The remainder of the division, under General Stephens's 
command, hearing the sound of the cannon, also inclined 
westward, and came out upon the flank of Wayne's divi- 
sion. The two bodies of troops became confused and 
shot into each other before they discovered their mistake. 
This ended the American siege on the Chew house, but 
Colonel Musgrave maintained his position until the end 
of the battle. 

General Greene, who had charge of the Limekiln Road, 
deployed Stephens to the right and McDougal to the left, 
and opened fire on the First Battalion of the British 
Light Infantry at the crossroads near Betton's Woods, 
about half an hour after the attack upon Mount Airy by 
Sullivan. He had formed his army into line previous to 
the attack, but the hills, swamps, and fences proved such an 
obstruction that the line was soon broken ; but he con- 
tinued, after reaching Church Lane, to march with his 
command in broken columns toward the market house 
in the center of Germantown. Here he encountered 
the right wing of the British army drawn up to re- 
ceive him. The vigor of his attack drove the enemy 
back. Generals Smallwood and Forman now appeared 
on the right flank of the enemy, and the American troops 
seemed on the point of victory. The fighting became 



245 

desperate. Germantown was converted into a bloody 
battlefield. Some of the British became prisoners of the 
Americans, but were soon recaptured. The utmost con- 
fusion prevailed. Soldiers fired at random, for the fog was 
so dense that they could not distinguish friend from foe. 
General Sullivan and his forces drove the retreating 
British toward the Schuylkill River. Wayne's division 
became alarmed by a large body of troops gathering on' 
the east, whom they mistook for the British', though they 
were American forces under General Greene. 

This alarm caused Wayne's division to halt, and it 
fell back on Stephens's command who gave the order to 
retreat. Sullivan also became alarmed at the gathering 
of forces on his left and the firing at the Chew house in 
the rear, and his soldiers cried out, '' We are surrounded ! " 
The entire American army became confused and began 
to retreat. Thus the prize of victory was abandoned at 
the moment when another efifort might have secured it. 
It is said that General Howe had given orders, in case 
of retreat, to rendezvous at Chester, that two thousand 
Hessians had" crossed the Schuylkill for that purpose, and 
that the Tories were moving out of the city. This state- 
ment was also confirmed by a communication which 
General Sullivan sent to Congress, and it was further 
confirmed by the British officers themselves in their report 
to Great Britain. 

The British were surprised at the retreat of the Ameri- 
can army, and advanced in turn. As the American forces 
were leaving Germantown under command of Generals 
Greene and Wayne, a division of the British army, under 
Lord Cornwallis from Philadelphia, joined the commands 



246 

of Generals Grey and Agnew, and took up the pursuit. 
This was trying to the American forces. The heavy 
cannon delayed them. The enemy's cavalry rode into 
and scattered General Greene's division. When the pur- 
suit became too oppressive General Wayne ordered his men 
to turn the guns on the enemy. This forced the British 
to halt and form their lines for action. By the time the 
Americans reached White Marsh, fourteen miles from 
Philadelphia, the British were compelled to give up the 
pursuit. Washington held on his way until he reached 
the Perkiomen Creek, where he halted with the main body 
of his army at Pennypacker's Mills. 

When the fog and smoke had cleared, and the sounds of 
war had ceased, a woeful scene presented itself to the 
citizens of Germantown. For about three hours their town 
had been a battlefield. Men lay dead and dying, and 
their blood was mingled with the dust. The beautiful 
gardens and orchards were laid waste. Sad indeed was the 
loss on both sides, each army losing officers of distinction 
and rank. Washington's army had 30 officers and 122 
men killed, while 1 17 officers and 404 men were wounded, 
and 400 were taken prisoners. The British loss was re- 
ported to be 13 officers and 58 men killed, 55 officers and 95 
men wounded. A company of British soldiers were detailed 
to bury the dead. While this was being roughly done one 
of the officers called to his men : " Don't bury them thus, 
and cast dirt in their faces, for they also are mothers' sons." 

The battle of Germantown aroused the national and 
patriotic spirit of the people. Congress, appreciative of 
the tireless activity of Washington, extended a vote of 
thanks to him for his " wise and well-concerted attack 



247 

upon the enemy's army near Germantown," and the com- 
mander in chief of the American army in turn con- 
gratulated his officers for their " brave exertion on that 
occasion." 

The defeat of the Americans in this battle is attributed 
to several different causes. Some asserted that the de- 
feat was due to the fog; some attributed it to the delay 
at the Chew house ; some to the drunkenness of Stephens ; 
some to the want of ammunition ; and still others to the 
lack of communication between the several army divisions. 
General Sullivan said : *' I can discover no other cause for 
not improving this happy opportunity than the extreme 
haziness of the weather." General .Wayne said: "A 
windmill attack was made on a house into which six light 
companies had thrown themselves to avoid our bayonets ; 
this gave time to the enemy to rally ; our troops were de- 
ceived by this attack, taking it for something formidable ; 
they fell back to assist in what they deemed a serious 
matter. The enemy finding themselves no further pursued, 
and believing it to be a retreat, followed. Confusion ensued, 
and we ran away from the arms of victory ready to receive 
us." Washington said: "Although an unfortunate fog, 
joined with the smoke, prevented the different brigades 
from seeing and supporting each other, or sometimes even 
from distinguishing their fire from the enemy's, and al- 
though for some other causes which as yet cannot be 
accounted for, they finally retreated, they nevertheless see 
that the enemy is not proof against a vigorous attack and 
may be put to flight when boldly pushed. This they will 
remember, and they assure themselves that on the next 
occasion, by a proper exertion of the powers God has given 



248 

them, being inspired by the cause of freedom in which 
they are engaged, they will be victorious." 

The battle of Germantown produced a good effect upon 
the American army and nation. Confidence was revived, 
and the cause of liberty was strengthened. These results 
are a lasting monument to the courage, endurance, and 
patriotism of our forefathers. Those who fought and fell 
there are worthy of highest praise. To their valor, suffer- 
ings, and sacrifices we owe, in a great measure, the inde- 
pendence and prosperity which we now enjoy. " We do 
well to commemorate the Battle of Germantown, to repeat 
its story and teach it to our children. What matters it 
whether our little army, in that one day's struggle, won or 
lost? It is by rough ways only that the stars are reached ; 
by daring and by suffering that victory is won ; and surely 
this story brings before us, right here at our very doors, 
the patient courage of the men who carried to its happy 
end that long and weary struggle, and under God's good 
providence achieved the task that was set before them, to 
make for us an inheritance which we, by like courage and 
like devotion only, can maintain." 



3>^C 



THE MISCHIANZA. 

WHEN Lord Howe was about to return to England, 
the British officers in Philadelphia resolved to give 
him a farewell entertainment. It was called the '* Mischi- 
anza," a medley, or mixture, and was a most elaborate affair. 
It was attended by Britain's handsomest and bravest men 
and Philadelphia's fairest and loveliest women. The special 



249 



feature of the entertainment was a tilt, or tournament, such 
as the knights of old held in the presence of royalty. 
This event of love and glory occurred May i8, 1778, at 
" Duke " Wharton's mansion in Southwark (now Fifth 
Street, below Washington Avenue), at the very time when 
the American soldiers were recovering from the effects of 
a bitter cold winter at Valley Forge. 

About fifty American maidens and many matrons were 
present at the entertainment, and all authors agree as 
to their beauty and 
charms. Of these wom- 
en fourteen took an 
active part in this par- 
ody of royalty. Seven 
of these were called the 
" Ladiesof the Blended 
Rose," and seven the 
"Ladies of the Burn- 
ing Mountain." Their 
suitors were all brave 
and handsome, and all 
boasted their descent 
from ancient knights 
and barons. Seven of 
the knights were called 
'* White Knights," and were suitors of the Ladies of the 
Blended Rose, while seven were called ** Black Knights," 
and did honor to the Ladies of the Burning Mountain. 

The preparatory place of meeting was at Knight's Wharf, 
now the terminus of Green Street, on the Delaware. At 
3 P.M. on that beautiful day the knights and their ladies 




Mischianza Ticket. 



250 

began to assemble. All the British war boats and large 
flatboats were gathered in a grand regatta of three divi- 
sions, consisting of about three hundred boats. Each 
division was preceded by a large barge with a band 
of musicians, who played sweet strains of music, while 
the rowers kept time with rhythmic stroke. The boats, 
manned by sailors in red coats trimmed with gilt buttons, 
with British flags floating over them, presented an ani- 
mated scene on the waters of the Delaware. At a signal 
from the Vigilante, the barges under waving silken banners 
and festooned canopies of many colors, moved majestically 
down the river. When they reached the British fort, a little 
below Swedes Church, the company disembarked. Im- 
mediately a salute was fired in honor of General Howe by 
the British man-of-war, the Roebuck. This was answered 
by the Vigilante and the Fannie, and ere the echo had 
died away other armed vessels up and down the river 
saluted one another in honor of the grand occasion. 

On landing, the guards and grenadiers, the pride of the 
British army, were drawn up in double lines, supported 
by light horse cavalry in the rear. Through this avenue 
of troops the company was conducted, preceded by all 
the bands of the army, to a lawn one hundred and fifty 
yards square. Around this square stood the British army, 
twenty-four thousand strong. On one side were two 
pavilions, with rows of benches rising tier upon tier, for 
the benefit of spectators. Each pavilion was richly orna- 
mented with a distinct royal coat of arms and colors. In 
the front row of each pavilion were seated seven ladies 
dressed in Turkish habits, and wearing in their turbans the 
gifts they intended to bestow upon their favorite knights. 



251 

The seven turbaned ladies in one pavilion were called the 
Ladies of the Blended Rose. Each was dressed in a polo- 
naise of white silk with a pink sash six inches wide, adorned 
with spangles ; their shoes and stockings were of spangled 
silver; their towering headdresses were ornamented with a 
profusion of pearls and jewels, while their veils were em- 
broidered and edged with silver lace. The seven ladies in 
the other pavilion, called the Ladies of the Burning Moun- 
tain, were dressed in white silk gowns trimmed with black. 

The Ladies of the Blended Rose were represented by 
seven White Knights dressed in pink and white satin, with 
hats of pink silk, each adorned with a white ostrich feather. 
These knights were mounted on gray chargers, caparisoned 
in the same colors, and were marshaled by Lord Cathcart, 
who appeared as the chevalier of Miss Auchmuty, the 
queen of the Ladies of the Blended Rose. His device was 
Cupid riding on a lion, and his motto was, "Surmounted by 
Love." Two black slaves with bare shoulders, and silver 
clasps about their neck and arms, with sashes of blue and 
white around their waists, held the stirrups. Trumpeters 
attended a herald in purple dress, bearing the general 
device of two roses intertwined, and the motto, " We droop 
when separated." The knights were accompanied by 
their several squires on foot, richly dressed in pink and 
white, bearing lances and shields. In making the circuit 
of the square the knights saluted the ladies as they passed, 
and took up their position in a line with the ladies of their 
choice, as the Knights of the Blended Rose. 

After a great flourish of trumpets the herald stepped 
forth, declaring that " the Knights of the Blended Rose, 
by me, their herald, proclaim and assert that the Ladies of 



252 

the Blended Rose excel in wit, beauty, and every accom- 
plishment those of the whole world ; and should any 
knight or knights be so hardy as to dispute or deny it, 
they are ready to enter the lists with them, and maintain 
their assertions by deeds of arms, according to the laws 
of ancient chivalr\-." This challenge was thrice repeated; 
then a sound of trumpets was heard from the opposite 
side of the square. A herald, on whose tunic was 
represented a burning mountain, and the motto, " I burn 
forever," appeared, attended b\- four trumpeters all 
dressed in black and orange silk. The two heralds held 
a parley, each setting forth the merits of his ladies and 
his order. The herald, in the name of the Knights of the 
Burning ]\Iountain, now bade defiance to the Knights of 
the Blended Rose, in the following challenge: "The 
Knights of the Burning Mountain present themselves 
here, not to contest by words, but to disprove by deeds, 
the N'ainglorious assertion of the Knights of the Blended 
Rose, and enter these lists to maintain that the Ladies 
of the Burning Mountain are not excelled in beauty, 
virtue, or accomplishment by any in the universe." 
The knights now entered the arena, attended hv their 
squires. Captain Watson, as chief, was dressed in a mag- 
nificent suit of black and orange silk, with a black ostrich 
plume in his hat, and was mounted on a black horse with 
trappings and plumes in colors to match his dress. He 
appeared in honor of Miss Franks, queen of the Ladies 
of the Burning Mountain. Captain Scott bore his lance, 
and Lieutenant Lytellton his shield. His device was a 
heart with a wreath of flowers ; his motto, " Love and 
Glory." These Black Knights, like the former had each a 



253 

device and a motto. They made the circuit of the list; 
then, bowing', took their position in a Hne with their favor- 
ite ladies, and in front of the White Knights. 

At a signal from the field marshal the chief of the 
White Knights threw his gauntlet on the ground, and the 
chief of the Black Knights ordered his squire to pick it up. 






^.^/ 














- V- « M '^f 'If ^^ 






The Wharton House, Scene of the Mischianza. 



This was the acceptance of the challenge. Then the 
knights received their lances from their squires ; they 
fixed their shields on their left arms, saluted one another 
with a graceful motion of the lance, and retired to the 
farthest end of the arena. At the trumpet call all dashed 
forward, encountering one another at full gallop, shivering 
their spears. Again and again they rushed forward, dis- 
charging their pistols. On the fourth charge the chiefs 
engaged in combat with their swords. At this the field 
marshal interrupted the fight, declaring that honors were 



254 

even, the knights equally bra\'e, and that the ladies were 
charmed with their valor and devotion. 

After the contest the knights saluted the ladies, and 
passing through the triumphal arches dedicated to Lord 
Howe and his brother the admiral, arranged themselves 
on the sides until the ladies passed. The first arch was 
beautifully painted with naval emblems, and crowning it 
was a representation of Neptune, and a ship in full sail. 
On each side w^as stationed a sailor with drawn cutlass. 
The knights and ladies now passed on through the second 
arch. This was emblematic of the army, as the other was 
of the navy. The pediment of one was adorned with naval 
designs, the other with trophies of military achievements. 

The guests now entered a beautiful flower garden, with 
carpeted aisles leading to the house, where they were 
received by the managers, who invited them to a spacious 
hall, the panels of which were skillfully painted in imitation 
of Sienna marble. Here tea, coffee, lemonade, and cakes 
were provided, and here the knights came to receive favors 
on bended knee from the respective ladies whom they had 
championed in the lists. Ascending a flight of stairs, they 
entered a magnificent ballroom, decorated in light blue 
and rose pink, painted with varied scenes, and adorned 
with many flowers. The brilliancy of the whole was 
heightened by eighty-five mirrors, decked with ribbons 
and flowers. On the same floor were four drawing-rooms, 
decorated and lighted after the manner of the ballroom. 

The ball was opened by a dance of the knights with 
their ladies, and continued until ten o'clock, w^hen the 
windows were thrown open and a beautiful bouquet of 
rockets announced the beginning of a varied display of 



255 

fireworks. The arches In honor of General Howe and 
Admiral Howe were beautifully illuminated, while from 
the military triumphal arch Fame appeared blowing a 
trumpet, from which issued these words in letters of light : 
''Tes lanriej'S sojit innjwrtels." 

About eleven o'clock a pyrotechnical display occurred 
which was not down on the programme. Captain McLane, 
the scout of the American army, whose business it was to 
hover on the enemy's flanks, gathered his camp kettles 
filled with combustibles, and with a hundred men in four 
squads, backed by a relay of cavalry, crept under the re- 
doubts and fired the whole length of the British abatis. 
A long line of flames shot up on the north side of the city. 
There was a cry of "To arms! The foe, the foe!" The 
officers marshaled in haste amid the rattle of musketry and 
the boom of cannon. Tory ladies' cheeks grew pale from 
fear, and rebel ladies blushed to think that their brothers, 
lovers, and friends from Valley Forge (for they thought it 
Washington's army) should find them in robes of silken at- 
tire, feasting and drinking with their country's oppressors 
and enemies. The British officers assured the ladies that it 
was a part of the entertainment, and they went on dancing. 

At midnight concealed folding doors opened, and a mag- 
nificent saloon was revealed, with floor like marble, two 
hundred and ten feet long and forty feet wide. The arches 
of this room were beautifully embellished. The sides of 
the hall and the ceiling were painted to represent vines, 
leaves, and flowers. The brilliancy was heightened by 
fifty-six large mirrors, ornamented with green silk, and 
reflecting a profusion of artificial flowers and ribbons, as 
well as the lovely faces of the ladies and the handsome 



256 

figures of the men. A hundred branches trimmed with 
three Hghts each, and eighteen lusters trimmed with 
twenty-four hghts each, were suspended from the ceiHng. 
Twenty-four bhick slaves in Oriental dress, with silver 
collars and bracelets, were arranged in two lines, twelve 
on a side, and bent to the ground as Lord Howe and 
his brother approached. 

At this banquet four hundred and thirty covers were 
laid with twelve hundred dishes, while over the table three 
hundred wax tapers shone. Toward the close of the feast 
a herald and his trumpeters appeared. The king and royal 
family were toasted, and each toast was repeated by the 
herald, followed by a flourish of trumpets. At the toast 
to the king all the company arose and sang " God Save 
the King." The army, the navy, their commanders, the 
knights, the ladies, all these came in for honorable men- 
tion and toasts. After supper some of the company 
returned to the ballroom, where the dance continued until 
four o'clock in the morning. Some spent the night over 
the wine table, while others entertained themselves with 
games of chance until the night wore away. Thus ended 
this ephemeral blaze of glory, and in thirty days the 
knights were in hasty retreat across the sands of New 
Jersey, with Washington in full pursuit. 

When General Arnold assumed command of Phila- 
delphia, it was immediately resolved, by the French and 
American officers, to give a great ball " to the young ladies 
who had manifested their attachment to the cause of 
virtue and freedom by sacrificing every convenience to the 
love of their country." There were several reasons why 
the Tory ladies should be invited, one of which was that 



257 

Arnold had fallen in love with " Peggy " Shippen, one 
of the Mischianza ladies, who was a standing toast of 
the British officers. So they were invited, and soon all 
jealousy was forgotten in the ballroom. 

But it was not forgotten or forgiven by the soldiers who 
had suffered at Valley Forge. General Wayne, after the 
battle of Monmouth, in July, 1778, wrote: "Tell those 
Philadelphia ladies, who attended Howe's assemblies and 
levees that the heavenly, sweet, pretty redcoats, the ac- 
complished gentlemen of the guards and grenadiers, have 
been humbled on the plains of Monmouth. . . . The 
Knights of the Blended Rose and the Btirning Mount have 
resigned their laurels to Rebel officers, who will lay them 
at the feet of tJiose virtuous daughters of America, who 
cheerfully gave up ease and affluence in a city, for liberty 
and peace of mind in a cottage." 

It may be interesting to know that none of these ladies 
married their knights of the Mischianza, and although 
these knights " are dust, and their swords are rust," still the 
Mischianza will ever live in history as one of the greatest 
follies ever enacted in the city of Philadelphia. It was 
described in England as the "Triumph of Leaving 
America Unconquered . . . thirteen colonies wretchedly 
lost, and a three-years' series of ruinous disgraces and 
defeats." The real object of the Mischianza was to enhance 
the reputation of a dilatory and inefficient commander, 
Lord Howe. Bancroft says: "Never had subordinates 
given a more brilliant farewell to a departing general, and 
it was doubly dear to their commander, for it expressed 
their belief that the ministry had wronged him, and that 
his own virtue pointed him out for advancement." 

STO. OF I'HII.. — 17 



258 



ROBERT MORRIS. 

ONE morning more than a hundred years ago a portly, 
handsome man of middle age, with step full of grace 
and vigor, walked down Market Street toward the Dela- 
ware. To passing acquaintances his greeting was gracious 
and simple. Strangers to him turned to gaze at the re- 
treating form, as though something in the man and his 
bearing claimed their especial attention. This man was 
Robert Morris, a member of the firm of Willing & Morris, 
one of the largest and most prosperous commercial houses 
in Philadelphia. When Mr. Morris reached the office, 22"] 
Market Street, he entered, bade the clerks a cheerful good 
morning, and passing into the countingroom, took up the 
morning's mail. Among the many letters awaiting him, 
one bore the evidence of state correspondence. Opening 
it, he read : 

"Philadelphia, February 21, 1781. 
'* Sir : By the inclosed copy you will be informed that 
Congress have been pleased unanimously to elect you, sir, 
to the important office of Superintendent of Finance. 

** It is hoped that this important call of your country 
will be received by you, sir, as irresistible. 

" I have the honor to be, with sentiments of esteem and 
regard, 

" Your most obedient and very humble servant, 

'' Sam Huntingdon, President. 

" Robert Morris, Esquire." 



259 



Robert Morris drew a long breath, and then bowing his 
head upon his hands, communed with himself. The ap- 
pointment had been unsought, was contrary to his private 
interests, and, owing to the condition of the country, was 
really dangerous to accept. After careful consideration he 
wrote to Congress that he could accept the position only 
on the conditions that the appointment of all persons who 
were to act in his 
office should be made 
by himself, and that 
the absolute power of 
dismissing them be 
committed to him. 
To this Congress at 
first objected, fearing 
that they would be at 
the mercy of a dicta- 
tor ; but as they could 
find no one else who 
possessed talents so 
fitting for the position, 
Morris was appointed. 
When notified of his 
appointment he wrote Congress a letter, in which occurs 
this beautiful sentiment : " The United States may com- 
mand everything I have except my integrity, and the loss 
of that would effectually disable me from serving them 
more." 

Robert Morris was born in Liverpool, England, January 
31, 1734. His father, Robert Morris, Sr., a Liverpool 
merchant, came to this country and settled at Oxford, 




Robert Morris. 



• 26o 

Maryland, leaving his son Robert in care of his grand- 
mother. At the age of thirteen Robert was sent for by 
his father, and was placed under a teacher in Philadelphia, 
from whom he soon learned all that was to be taught in 
the school. At the age of sixteen he was left an orphan, 
his father dying from a wound received from the wad of 
a gun fired in his honor from one of the vessels of which 
he was agent. Soon after, Robert entered the counting- 
house of Charles WiUing, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant, 
as an apprentice. By his activity, intelligence, and gra- 
cious manner, he won the confidence and good will of all 
with whom he came in contact. In 1754, when Morris 
had reached his twenty-first year, he was taken into part- 
nership by the elder Mr. Willing's son Thomas, and thus 
was formed the firm of Willing & Morris. He attended 
to business faithfully, making several voyages as super- 
cargo ; he tried to profit by every experience, and contin- 
ually strove to cultivate his mind and enrich his character, 
so that he became a successful and prominent merchant, 
and a useful citizen of Philadelphia. 

On March 2, 1769, Robert Morris was wedded to Mary 
White, the sister of Bishop White. She was one of Phila- 
delphia's noblest women, and when married was a little 
over twenty years of age. She has been described as ** ele- 
gant, accomplished, and rich, and well qualified to carry 
the felicity of connubial life to its highest perfection." 
Not only did she preside gracefully over her husband's 
luxurious home during his days of prosperity, but when 
misfortune had overtaken him she showed herself a true 
and devoted wife. 

Morris early showed a spirit of patriotism that made 



26 1 



him one of the leaders in the struggle for freedom. Al- 
though he was warmly attached to the mother country, he 
opposed the Stamp Act, and served on the committee of cit- 
izens who forced John Hughes to cease collecting revenue 
for stamps. Though it was contrary to his business in- 
terests, he signed the nonimportation agreement of 1765. 
In June, 1775, Morris was appointed to fill his first public 
position as a member of the Committee of Safety of Penn- 
sylvania; in October of the same year he was elected a 
member of the ,.^ 

Assembly of the 
province ; and 
in November, 
1775, he was 
appointed one 
of the delegates 
to the Continen- 
tal Congress, of 
which he soon 
became an ac- 
tive and influential member. He was appointed chair- 
man of the secret committee to procure arms and am- 
munition, and was a member of the committee on secret 
correspondence. 

While an ardent advocate of colonial rights, he hesitated 
as to the policy of declaring for independence, believing 
that the time had not yet come for its adoption. On the 
1st of July he voted against the Resolution; on the 2d 
and 4th he did not take his seat ; however, after the Dec- 
laration had been passed, Morris signed his name, August 
2, 1776. In November of the same year he was elected 




The Morris House. 



262 

a member of the Assembly of Pennsylvania under the new 
constitution, and again in 1778. On the removal of Con- 
gress to Baltimore, Morris remained in Philadelphia to 
superintend important business affairs relative to the army. 
He succeeded in borrowing, upon his own security, the 
necessary funds which enabled Washington to carry on a 
successful campaign at Trenton. He remained a member 
of Congress until the close of the session of 1778, serving 
on important committees and discharging his duties with 
ability and discretion. He was then appointed a special 
commissioner to procure money for the government, and 
frequently pledged his private means for public service. 

Having been practically the financial agent of Congress 
for some time, Robert Morris was appointed chief of the 
committee on finance in I 778. The following year charges 
of fraud were brought against the firm of Willing & 
Morris. The charges were investigated by a Congressional 
Committee. The results of this investigation clearly demon- 
strated that the commercial business of the government, 
transacted by authority of the secret committee, under 
cover of the name of the firm, had been characterized 
by scrupulous integrity. In July, 1780, Morris, with a 
few others, established the Bank of Pennsylvania. A year 
later he gave *' the first vehement impulse toward the 
consolidation of the Federal Union " by the creation of 
the Bank of North America, which in six months after its 
opening January 7, 1782, had loaned to the United States 
four hundred thousand dollars, and also released the United 
States from its subscription of two hundred thousand dol- 
lars, which Morris personally paid. 

On February 20, 1781, Morris was elected Superintend- 



263 

ent of Finance. It was the most trying time of the Revo- 
kitionary War. The treasury of the United States was 
empty. There was a debt of two milHon five hundred 
thousand dollars, and the Board of War had not money 
enough to send an express rider to the army. There was 
no gold or silver in the country, as it had been sent to 
England to pay for merchandise imported to America 
previous to the war. In lieu of coin, paper or '' Con- 
tinental " money had been issued in such quantities that 
it had become of little value. 

When Morris entered the office of Superintendent of 
Finance, June, 1781, the whole nation felt a thrill of con- 
fidence. Congress showed its faith in him by giving him 
complete control of the funds of the States, and also by 
favoring the establishment of the Bank of North America. 
As financier of tlie United States, Morris drew thousands 
of dollars from this bank, for which he was personally 
responsible, while he strained every effort at home and 
abroad to make his financial credit good. All his offi- 
cial acts were marked by frankness and honesty. He 
did not believe in secret legislation, and was the first de- 
fender of public information concerning public actions. For 
this the people and the press should hold him in grate- 
ful remembrance. He thought France ought to know our 
financial condition, '' for the least breach of faith will ruin, 
must ruin, us forever." He wrote to Washington that he 
felt confident foreign nations would be willing to assist 
America when they saw " exertion on the one hand and 
economy on the other." As early as May, 1781, he pro- 
posed to import specie to preserve the credit of the gov- 
ernment, as he had heard that Congress had obtained 



264 

some " on terms inconsistent with the dignity of the gov- 
ernment and not very consonant to the pubHc interests." 
Through his skill in financiering and by the encourage- 
ment of Congress, he was enabled to supply the army and 
navy with food and clothing, and thus to encourage the 
noble patriots in the most critical period of our nation's 
history. He himself supplied to the destitute, starving 
soldiers thousands of barrels of flour, and furnished lead 
for bullets. To Greene and the army in the South he 
suppHed funds through a secret agent when that general 
seemed to be in a hopeless condition. When Washington 
changed his plans, and decided to make an attack on Lord 
Cornw^allis at Yorktown instead of an attack on Sir Henry 
Clinton at New York, Morris, who was in the camp, said : 
"Let me know the sum you desire." Washington esti- 
mated the amount required ; Morris promised it and 
hastened to Philadelphia. On his arrival he directed the 
commissary general to secure supplies for the army in an 
expedition against Yorktown. He then sent to the quar- 
termasters of Delaware and Maryland to procure the 
required number of boats for transporting troops and 
provisions. He called upon the governors and eminent 
merchants of Delaware and Maryland for assistance. He 
loaned twelve thousand dollars of his own money and bor- 
rowed twenty thousand dollars of Rochambeau, w^iile he 
pressed his friends on every side to aid him in securing 
the necessary means to support this important expedition. 
In accomplishing this undertaking he not only advanced 
his credit, but pledged every shilling of his own and all the 
means he could obtain from his friends. '* If it were not 
demonstrable by official records," says the historian, '* pos- 



265 

terity would hardly be made to believe that the campaign 
of 1 78 1, which resulted in the capture of Cornwallis and 
virtually closed the Revolutionary War, was sustained 
wholly on the credit of an individual merchant." Mar- 
shall, in his " Life of Washington," says: " If Morris was 
not perfectly successful, he did more than could have been 
believed possible, and it was due to him that the York- 
town campaign was not frustrated by lack of means of 
transportation and subsistence." 

On the 24th of January, 1783, Morris tendered his 
resignation as United States financier. His reason was 
that '* to increase our debts while the prospect of paying 
for them diminishes, does not consist with my ideas of 
integrity. I must therefore quit a situation which be- 
comes utterly unsupportable." His friend Alexander 
Hamilton, in a letter to Washington, explained his action 
as follows: *' As to Mr. Morris," he says, "I will give 
your Excellency a true explanation of his conduct. He 
has been for some time pressing Congress to endeavor to 
obtain funds, and has found a great backwardness in the 
business. He found the loans in Europe making very 
slow progress ; he found himself, in short, reduced to this 
alternative : either of making engagements which he could 
not fulfill, or declaring his resignation in case funds were 
not established in a given time. Had he followed the first 
course, the bubble must soon have burst; he must have 
sacrificed his credit and his character, and public credit, 
already in a ruined condition, must have lost its support- 
He wisely judged it better to resign." 

Congress ordered his resignation to be kept secret, and 
insisted that Morris should remain in office, which he finally 



266 

agreed to do, provided arrangements were made to pay 
off the army, the immediate debt of which was seven hun- 
dred and fifty thousand dollars. He said : " We are keep- 
ing up an army, at a great expense and ver\' much against 
their inclination, for a mere punctilio." In order to pay 
the army Morris requested Congress to issue paper money, 
redeemable in a specified time at the Treasury of the 
United States. To raise the coin for the redemption of 
this paper money, Morris urged Congress to impose a 
general tax on all the States. Congress held that the 
States should lay the taxes, but Morris had no confidence 
in the States. His experience taught him that the States 
were not to be relied upon, and as the debt was national, he 
argued that it should be paid by the nation. However, 
on the promise of Congress, he indorsed certain certificates 
of public credit to the amount of seven hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars, payable in six months from date, which 
notes were to be distributed among the soldiers as payment 
for service. By this means Morris was enabled to relieve 
the public distress for six months, and eventually to pay 
off and disband the army. 

Instead of supporting Morris in his efforts, both Con- 
gress and the States united to frustrate his plans ; the 
former by breaking a promise and the latter by not remit- 
ting their assessments. In order to maintain the credit 
of the United States, Morris drew bills on time and fre- 
quently overdrafted his accounts with France. These 
were desperate methods and threatened his private credit 
and his honorable name. John Adams came to his assist- 
ance with a foreign loan. Congress, instead of assisting 
Morris, began to find fault with him. It had secured 



26/ 

independence and paid its army on his credit, and his 
financial embarrassment or failure meant nothing to it. 
Besides, what mattered the sacrifice of a single man ? This 
ingratitude of Congress toward a financial helper and 
leader through the darkest days of the Revolution will be 
a stain on the honor of the patriot fathers for all time, 
while the patriotic interest, the bold financial policy, and 
the indomitable energy of Robert Morris will be a political 
lesson as long as the Union stands. 

At last, tired of continual worry and excitement, he 
resigned his post as Superintendent of Finance, Novem- 
ber I, 1784. By this time he had been able to reduce 
the amount of his outstanding notes and had discharged 
all the debt which he had incurred in paying oflf the 
army. Returning his commission to Congress, he said : 
** It gives me great pleasure to reflect that the situation of 
public aff"airs is more prosperous than when that commis- 
sion was issued. The sovereignty and independence of 
America are acknowledged. May they be firmly estab- 
lished, and effectually! Th's can be done only by a just 
and vigorous government. That these States, therefore, 
may be soon and long united under such a government, 
is my ardent wish and constant prayer." 

After his resignation from the office of Superintendent 
of Finance, Morris was again elected a member of the 
Assembly. In 1787 he served as a delegate to the con- 
veniion which framed the Constitution of the United 
States, and in 1789 he was elected United States senator 
from Pennsylvania to the first Federal Congress. In this 
capacity he served for six years, until i 795 ; and this was 
his last public service. When the new government was 



268 

organized, he was offered by President Washington the 
office of Secretary of the Treasury, but he decHned it in 
favor of his friend Alexander Hamilton, whom Washing- 
ton appointed. 

It is a sad fact that the later years of the life of 
Robert Morris were clouded with misfortune. Through 
heavy speculation in land, in anticipation of a large foreign 
immigration, he became financially embarrassed, and could 
not raise sufficient money to pay his creditors. In this 
dilemma he wrote to Hamilton : " I am sensible that I have 
lost the confidence of the world as to my pecuniary ability, 
but I believe not as to my honor or integrity." On the 
1 6th of February, 1798, Morris was forced to go to Prune 
Street Prison, Philadelphia, where he spent several years 
in a debtor's cell. During his imprisonment Mrs. Morris 
often visited him and dined with him. On one occasion 
she took with her an autograph letter signed by both Presi- 
dent and Martha Washington, urging her to pay them a 
visit at Mount Vernon, and to make '* as long a stay under 
our roof as you shall find convenient, for be assured we 
ever have, and still do retain, the most affectionate regard 
for you, Mr. Morris, and the family." While her husband 
was in prison, Mrs. Morris, through certain interests in the 
Holland Land Company, and by the influence of Gouver- 
neur Morris, obtained from that corporation, in considera- 
tion of her signature to certain papers, a life annuity of two 
thousand dollars. When Mr. Morris was released from 
prison by the passage of the national bankrupt law in 
1802, Mrs. Morris took her husband to a comfortable home 
which her decision and forethought had enabled her to 
secure. 



269 

Robert Morris died May 8, 1806, and his remains lie 

buried under Christ Church parish house, on Second 

Street near Market. Over his remains is the simple 
inscription : 

The Family Vault, of WM white, & ROBT MORRIS, The latter, 
who was Financier of the United States during the Revolution, died 
the 8th May, 1806, aged 'j'^ Years. 



3>»4< 



BETSY ROSS AND THE FLAG. 

EVERY American boy and girl should know that the 
flag of our country had its birth in the city of Phila- 
delphia , that it was a patriotic woman of Philadelphia 
who made the first flag ; that it first waved over the United 
States Congress in session in Independence Hall ; and that 
to Philadelphia belongs the honor of originating the cus- 
tom of observing Flag Day in the public schools. 

To-day the American flag floats over almost every 
schoolhouse in the country, teaching a lesson of patriotism 
to the boys and girls of our public schools. Children are 
taught to admire its graceful motion, so expressive of free- 
dom ; its bright stars, the symbols of hope, equality, and 
national aspiration ; and its broad stripes, which remind us 
of the struggle of the thirteen colonies in the sacred cause 
of freedom. They are taught to prize its heavenly blue, as 
an emblem of power, protection, and justice ; its spotless 
white, as the symbol of purity, virtue, and peace; and its 
royal red, as a token of courage, vigilance, and zeal. It 



270 

speaks to the child of the noble deeds and heroic acts of 
his forefathers ; and its lessons of patriotism are as clear 
to-day as upon the day of its adoption by Congress. 

The American flag was a natural development, and not 
a special creation. Before the Revolution each colony had 
its own flag or banner. These emblems differed in size, in 
color, in devices, and in mottoes. No two of the colo- 
nies had a flag of the same design, and many different 
flags were used in the same colony. The flags of the North 
had one device in common, a pine tree, with the inscrip- 
tion, " An appeal to heaven," while the flag of the South 
had a rattlesnake, with the inscription, " Don't tread on 
me." At the beginning of the Revolution the dominant 
color of the flag of the army was red, while that of the 
navy was white. Hidden in every fold of these flags, how- 
ever, was the sentiment, " Liberty and union," As this 
idea was common to all the colonies, our forefathers sought 
to invent a design that should represent the freedom and 
union of the colonies. They wanted a flag that would 
speak comfort to the oppressed of every nation, defiance 
to the tyrant, and be the emblem of those principles of 
justice for which they contended. 

When Dr. Franklin, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. Harrison, as a 
committee from Congress, visited Washington at Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts, in 1775, to discuss the condition 
of the American army, they realized the necessity of a 
national ensign in order that our sailors at sea and our 
troops on land might recognize each other, and be united in 
action under a common flag in a common cause. They 
consulted with Washington about an emblem, and it is 
probable that his recollection of the standard of the 



271 

Philadelphia light horse, which escorted him on his way 
out of the city on the morning of June 21, 1775, to his 
command of the American forces at Cambridge, had im- 
pressed him with its field of alternate colors as being 
appropriate for a national flag. 

The result of the conference at Cambridge was the 
adoption of a flag with thirteen stripes, alternate red and 
white, emblematic of the thirteen original colonies. On 
the upper right-hand corner of the flag was a blue field 
with the king's colors, red and white, thus acknowledging 
fealty to the king; for though the Americans were in arm^s 
against the king's troops, they still hoped that the English 
Parliament would repeal the obnoxious laws it had passed, 
and restore to the colonists those English rights that were 
theirs by inheritance and by royal colonial charters. For 
this reason they retained on their flag the king's colors. 
Up to January i, 1776, the Americans had no red, white, 
and blue flag. This new flag was called " Washington's 
Grand Union " flag, and it was first unfurled by Washing- 
ton over the camp at Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 2, 
1776, where it was saluted with thirteen guns and thirteen 
cheers. There were two classes of persons, however, who 
did not favor this flag. The Protestant religious element, 
objected to the cross as savoring of papistry, and the 
radical patriots objected to the king's colors at all times. 
However, it was accepted and unfurled on sea and on land 
as the Continental flag. 

There was, however, no national flag authorized by any 
act of the United States Congress until the year 1777. 
Every colonial flag up to the 19th of April, 1777, was 
unmarked by a single star. The portrait of Washington 



2/2 

at the battle of Trenton, December 26, 1776, painted by 
Charles Wilson Peale in 1779, represents the Union Jack 
with thirteen stars arranged in a circle ; an unfinished 
sketch of the battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777, painted 
by Colonel Trumbull, who was in active service until 
February, 1777, represents the American flag carried by 
the troops as having thirteen stripes, red and white alter- 
nately, with a blue field, one star in the center and twelve 
in a square surrounding it; and Leutze's painting of 
Washington crossing the Delaware pictures a flag with 
the stars and stripes floating; yet it is probable that these 
flags were not intended to be historically accurate, but 
were used merely for artistic effect. 

In the spring of 1776 the navy was flying a flag under 
commission from Congress. This was a yellow silk flag 
bearing as its device a pine tree and a rattlesnake with 
thirteen rattles. One year later Congress appointed a 
committee to design a national flag ; it is not known 
who suggested the blue field and the stars. When the 
Congress of the United States assembled at Independence 
Hall, Saturday, June 14, 1777, they '' Reso/z'ed,Tha.tthe flag 
of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate 
red and white ; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a 
blue field, representing a new constellation." This act was 
officially signed and publicly proclaimed by Congress Sep- 
tember 3, 1777 ; thus it was nearly a year and a half after 
the adoption of the Declaration of Independence before a 
national flag representing the '' new constellation " was 
adopted by the Congress of the United States. 

There is a tradition that the committee appointed by 
Congress to prepare a design for the new flag consisted of 



273 



General Washington, Robert Morris, and Colonel George 

Ross. From the diary of Washington we learn that he 

was not in Philadelphia 

June 14, 1777, but at -* '^^^^ - ^_ 

Middlebrook, New Jer- ^. "'™'~^ 

sey ; nor had he been in 

Philadelphia from June 

5, 1776, to August 31, 

1777. He may have 

been, however, one of 

the chosen committee, 

and furnished a design 

for their consideration, 

and the device may 

have been suggested 

by the design on his 

coat of arms. Colonel 

Ross had a relative, 

Betsy Ross, who lived 




The Betsy Ross House. 



at 239 Arch Street, and who had previously made flags 
for the American army and navy. The committee called 
upon Mrs. Ross, stated their mission, and asked her if she 
would make a flag such as was ordered by Congress. " I 
do not know whether I can, but I'll try," was her reply. 
As the act of Congress did not specify the number of 
points of the stars or their arrangement, Mrs. Ross sug- 
gested that a star of five points would be more distinct, 
pleasing, and appropriate ithan the six-pointed star which 
the committee had designed. Folding a piece of white 
paper, she cut, with a single clip of her scissors, a five- 
pointed star, and placing it on a blue field, delighted the 

STO. OF PHIL. — 18 



274 

committee with her taste, ingenuity, and judgment. The 
committee decided that the stars, thirteen in number, 
should be arranged in a circle in a blue field, as the circle 
or ring is typical of eternity. So well pleased were the 
committee with the flag which Betsy Ross had made that 
they authorized her, in the name of Congress, to make 
the United States flags. On receiving commands from 
Congress, Betsy Ross began the making of American flags 
and employed many hands to aid her; and soon the new 
flag with its stars and stripes became the national ensign 
and floated over the army, the navy, and public buildings. 
The maiden name of Betsy Ross was Elizabeth Griscom. 
She was born in Philadelphia in 1752. Her parents be- 
longed to the Society of Friends. At an early age she 
married John Ross, an upholsterer, and wath her husband 
became a member of old Christ Church, where her pew is 
still pointed out to the visitor. John Ross was a prominent 
member of a famous colonial family. He was a nephew 
of Colonel George Ross, one of the signers of the Declara- 
tion of Independence. Mr. Ross, however, died soon after 
marriage, and Mrs. Ross continued in the upholstering 
business at 239 Arch Street, once numbered 89. This 
house is still standing ; it is a two-and-a-half story building, 
with sloping roof covered with shingles. The old- fashioned 
windows have heavy sashes and small panes of glass, and 
are protected by heavy shutters with handmade screws 
and hinges. The rooms are low-ceiled, and the floors are 
of oak. The open fireplace remains undisturbed, except 
that a few damaged tiles have been replaced by new ones. 
In this house may be seen many venerable relics of great 
interest to visitors. It was at this little house, when 



275 

Betsy Ross was but twenty-five years of age and a widow, 
that she made the first United States flag. 

Betsy Ross, it is said, was noted for her piety, patriotism, 
and skill in needlework. So widely was her skill recog- 
nized that she was called upon to adorn the parlors and 
drawing-rooms of the wealthy with draperies, halls and 
theaters with curtains, and to furnish the hotels with quilts. 
The staterooms of the packet ships were fitted up by her 
taste, and from their masts floated the streamers made by 
her. It is also said that she made the handsome ruffled shirt 
bosoms worn by General Washington, and that many of 
the senators who met in Independence Hall wore garments 
embroidered by her skill. At an early date, before she 
made United States flags, she made colonial flags for the 
army and navy ; and there remains on the ** Record " of the 
United States navy, May 29, 1777, *' an order on Wilham 
Webb to Elizabeth Ross for fourteen pounds twelve shillings 
and twopence, for making ships' colors," etc. In time Mrs. 
Ross married a Mr. Joseph Ashburn, who was captured on 
the privateer Ltizerne and died a prisoner of war in Mill 
Prison, England. By this marriage she had two children — 
Zillah, who died in infancy, and Eliza, who married a Mr, 
Sullivan. Mr. Ashburn sent a farewell message to his 
wife by a fellow-prisoner, John Claypoole, who later was 
exchanged for a British prisoner. On reaching Philadel- 
phia he delivered his message, and subsequently married 
Mrs. Ashburn. By this marriage five children were born. 
One, Clarissa by name, married a Mr. Wilson, and suc- 
ceeded to the business of upholstering and making Ameri- 
can flags. Subsequently becoming a member of the 
Society of Friends, she relinquished the business of mak- 



2/6 

ing flags for the United States army and navy, and thus 
the making of American flags passed from the house and 
family of Betsy Ross. 

Mrs. Claypoole (Betsy Ross) is buried by the side of 
her husband, John Claypoole, in Mount Moriah Cemetery. 
A simple monument with the following inscription marks 
their resting place : 

"In memory of John Claypoole, who died August 3, 1817, aged 
65 years. Also Elizabeth Claypoole, died January 30, 1836, aged 84 
years. Also James Champion, died February 14, 1836, aged 26 
years." 

The adoption of the American flag on June 14, 1777, 
is celebrated annually in the public schools of Philadelphia, 
and the day is known as *' Flag Day." The custom was 
introduced into the schools of this city by Dr. Edward 
Brooks, superintendent of public schools, in the summer 
of 1893. I^^ orie of his circulars he says : " It is gratifying 
to know that, by means of these exercises on Flag Day, 
Betsy Ross and the flag will become as sacred an incident 
in the memory of our citizens as is Paul Revere's ride 
or the Boston Tea Party to the people of Boston." The 
Society of Colonial Dames of Philadelphia, in 1893, nnder 
the leadership of Mrs. E. D. Gillespie, arranged for the 
celebration of the event in Independence Hall, where a 
number of the children of the public schools were ad- 
dressed by the mayor and other prominent persons. Ar- 
rangements were also made by which the children of the 
public schools visited the Flag House and received a small 
flag as a present. 

These celebrations have not only been a lesson of patri- 



277 

otism to the children of the public schools, but they have 
awakened a patriotic interest on the part of our citizens, 
so that the little house at 239 Arch Street, where the flag 
was first made, has become a center of attraction. An 
organization has been formed to purchase the Betsy Ross 
home, that it may be preserved as a memorial to the city 
and the nation. Stimulated by the popular interest in the 
subject, Mr. Weisgerber, a Philadelphia artist, has painted 
a picture representing the visit of Washington, Robert 
Morris, and Colonel Ross to Betsy Ross requesting her to 
make the flag for them, a photogravure copy of which now 
hangs in nearly every public school of the city. Three 
places of interest attract our citizens on each recurrence 
of the anniversary of the adoption of the flag; these are 
the little house at 239 Arch Street, where Betsy Ross 
lived, pew No. 12 in old Christ Church, where she at- 
tended worship, and the tomb of Betsy Ross in Mount 
Moriah Cemetery, where she lies buried. 

The United States flag shared in most of the battles of 
the American Revolution. Admiral Preble tells us, in his 
** United States Flag," that, " Beyond a doubt, the thirteen 
stars and stripes were unfurled at the battle of Brandy- 
wine, Sept. II, 1777, eight days after the official promul- 
gation of them at Philadelphia, and at Germantown on the 
4th of October following; they witnessed the operations 
against and the surrender of Burgoyne, after the battle of 
Saratoga, Oct. 17, 1777; and the sight of this new con- 
stellation helped to cheer the patriots of the army amid 
their sufferings around the camp fires at Valley Forge the 
ensuing winter. They waved triumphant at the surrender of 
Cornwallis at Yorktown, Sept. 19, 1781 ; looked down upon 



2/8 

the evacuation of New York, Nov. 25, 1783 ; and shared in 
all the glories of the latter days of the Revolution." 

T]ie first military action on land in which the United 
States flag was unfurled was at the investment of Fort 
Schuyler by the British, August 2, 1777. No flag had 
been provided for the troops, so they improvised one, cut- 
ting up American shirts for the white stripes, bits of scarlet 
cloth for the red, while Captain Swarthout loaned his blue 
camlet cloak, on which they sewed white stars. It is said 
that the heroes looked up to this flag as it floated over 
their defenses with as much pride as though it were made 
of the finest silk inwrought with silver stars. John Paul 
Jones claims to have been the first to hoist the Stars and 
Stripes on a ship at sea, while commander of the Ranger at 
Portsmouth. He also claims that he was the first to raise 
an American flag over the ship Alfred at Philadelphia, 
1775, and the first to have it saluted in European ports. 

On the first day of May, 1795, it was enacted by the 
United States in Congress assembled that " from and after 
the first day of May, 1795, the flag of the United States 
shall be fifteen stars, white in a blue field." The two extra 
stars and stripes represented the two new States added to 
the Union, namely, Kentucky and Vermont. It was this 
flag at Fort McHenry, seen still floating in the gray mists 
of the morning after the night attack of the British upon 
the fort, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write " The 
Star-Spangled Banner." Placing an old letter on a 
barrel head. Key wrote this immortal poem September 
14, 1 8 14. A day or two after, it was sung in a theater 
of Baltimore, the singer waving a flag as she sang, while 
the audience became wild with enthusiasm. 



279 

On April 4, 1818, the President approved and signed 
a ** bill to establish the flag of the United States." This 
bill provided " That from and after the fourth day of July 
next, the flag of the United States be thirteen horizontal 
stripes, alternate red and white ; that the union have twenty 
stars, white in a blue field. . . . That on the admis- 
sion of every new State into the Union, one star be added 
to the union of the flag ; and that such addition shall take 
eflfect on the fourth of July next succeeding such admission." 
Since then our flag has remained essentially the same, the 
stripes indicating the number of the original thirteen col- 
onies and the stars representing the number of States. 

We venerate our flag for its age as well as for its mean- 
ing. Other nations have frequently changed their em- 
blems, but for over one hundred and twenty years our 
flag has waved over the defenders of our native land. It 
has traversed the sea in the interest of explorers and 
navigators. It has protected our seamen and our com- 
merce. It witnessed the laying of the Atlantic cable, 
and it waved over the ship sent to starving Russia. It 
bore to the Cubans provisions and protection, and to-day, 
over every regiment in the field, over every vessel on the 
sea, over almost every public building, and from almost 
every home, floats the flag of the free. 

*' Flag of the free heart's hope and home, 

By angels' hands to valor given. 
Thy stars have lit the welkin dome, 

And all thy hues were born in heaven. 
Forever float that standard sheet ! 

Where breathes the foe but falls before us, 
With freedom's soil beneath our feet 

And freedom's banner streaming o'er us ? " 





4 5 7!«^--,\-L 




28l 



PRESIDENT WASHINGTON IN 
PHILADELPHIA. 

THE War of the Revolution was over, and the people 
felt that he who had led them safely through the 
perils of the war could be entrusted with their civil and 
political liberties. General George Washington was there- 
fore appointed one of a committee to draft a Constitution 
for the United States. Under this Constitution he was 
elected the first President of the new nation. While exe- 
cuting the duties of these offi.ces he resided in Philadelphia 
the greater portion of the time. 

On the arrival of Washington, May 13, 1787, many dis- 
tinguished men and officers of the army escorted him into 
the city, amid the cheers of an appreciative people, the 
chiming of bells, and the discharge of artillery. The con- 
vention to frame a National Constitution, which Wash- 
ington had come to attend, was ordered to convene May 
14; but only two States, Virginia and Pennsylvania, were 
represented on that day. It was not until the 25th that 
a sufficient number of delegates arrived to form a quorum. 

On the 28th of May the convention met in Independ- 
ence Hall, in the very room in which Washington had 
received his appointment as commander in chief of the 
American army. When the assembly was called to order 
it was agreed that " nothing spoken in the Convention be 
printed or otherwise published or communicated without 
leave." At this point we lose almost all record of the 
proceedings of that famous assembly. We know, how- 
ever, that they remained in session for over four months, 



282 

and that when they adjourned, September 17, a Consti- 
tution had been framed by the unanimous assent of the 
States present. This Constitution was the product of such 
excellent judgment that it remains essentially the same 
to-day as originally drafted, a masterpiece of political wis- 
dom. Although there were many things in this new con- 
stitution of which Washington did not approve, yet he 
thought it the best Constitution that could be adopted by 
the States, and he said : " We exhibit at present the novel 
and astonishing spectacle of a whole people deliberating 
calmly on what form of government will be most con- 
ducive to their happiness, and deciding with an unexpected 
degree of unanimity in favor of a system which they con- 
ceive calculated to answer the purpose." 

When the convention adjourned the members went to 
the Citv Tavern and took cordial leave of one another. 
On the following day General Washington left Philadel- 
phia for Mount Vernon. 

The entire nation now looked upon Washington as the 
only one who could successfully enforce the new Con- 
stitution. He had been chairman of the committee which 
framed it, and his influence would greatly aid in estab- 
lishing it from the beginning. The people therefore unani- 
mously elected George Washington the first President of 
the United States, February 3, 1789. On this occasion 
he wrote to his friend Lafayette : '* Nothing but harmony, 
honesty, industry, and frugality are necessary to make us 
a great and happy people. Happily the present posture of 
affairs, and the prevailing disposition of my countrymen, 
promise to cooperate in establishing those four great and 
essential pillars of public feHcity." 



283 

On the afternoon of the 20th of April, 1789, the people 
of Philadelphia were wild with enthusiasm, for at i P.M. 
'' his Excellency George Washington, President elect of 
the United States," was to arrive in Philadelphia. All 
the city dignitaries, the city troop, and a great con- 
course of people went to Gray's Ferry Bridge to meet him 
and escort him into the city. The bridge was decorated 
with laurel, and a magnificent triumphal arch spanned the 
road. As Washington rode under this arch on horseback 
at the head of the procession, a small boy concealed 
overhead in the shrubbery let fall upon him a civic crown 
of laurels. The act had its intended effect, and the 
people cheered themselves hoarse. The crowd followed 
the President to the City Tavern, where two hundred 
and fifty covers were laid for dinner. Here the supreme 
executive council, judges of the Supreme Court, mayor, 
aldermen, common council, trustees and faculty of the 
University of Pennsylvania, tendered him their respects 
as a pledge of their regard and fidelity. The following 
morning Washington set out for New York, and it was 
not until the 2d of September, 1 790, that he again en- 
tered the city, with Martha Washington, escorted by the 
city troop, the light infantry, and the artillery ; and 
they were given such a welcome as only the city of 
Philadelphia could give to a national hero, who had saved 
his country. 

After the United States Congress had fixed upon Phila- 
delphia as the seat of government, Washington came to 
Philadelphia and lived in the house provided for him "by 
the city corporation. This house was owned by Robert 
Morris, and was situated on the south side of Market 



284 

Street, east of Sixth Street. It had been occupied by 
Richard Penn, was used by General Howe as his head- 
quarters during the winter of 1777-78, and after the 




AX^ 






wSMr-^^-^^ 



— Lll^il 







528 Market Street. 

evacuation of the city by the British it was occupied by 
Benedict Arnold, and in 1779 by John Holker, consul 
general of France. Surrounding the house was a garden 
which extended to Minor Street. Washington's most in- 
timate friend, Robert Morris, resided on the west corner of 
Sixth and Market streets. This house, No. 528 Market 
Street, has become one of the objects of interest in Phila- 
delphia; and on May 8, 1897, the Society of the Sons of 
the Revolution placed on the building a tablet commem- 
orative of the home of Washington during his first presi- 
dency of the United States. On the 8th of December, 
Washington read his inaugural address before both houses 
of Congress, which met in the Senate Chamber of Con- 
gress Hall, a two- story brick building still standing on the 
northwest corner of Independence Square. 

Washington was now expected to represent his nation 
and maintain its dignity. Accordingly, presidential levees 
were held at his home every Tuesday afternoon between 



285 

three and four o'clock, at which time General Washington 
received visitors as the President of the United States. 
The dining room of his home was used as the reception 
room, and the visitors were introduced by his secretary 
or one of his friends. On these occasions Washington 
was dressed in a black velvet suit, his long hair powdered 
and gathered behind in a silk cover. His silver knee 
and shoe buckles were bright and shining, while a highly 
polished steel sword of exquisite workmanship hung by 
his side. At a quarter past three o'clock the doors were 
closed, and Washington, arising, spoke to the guests sepa- 
rately, calling each by name and exchanging compliments 
with them. Tall and dignified, of open countenance, noble 
and majestic bearing, and handsome physique, Washington 
impressed favorably every person who met him. 

These grand receptions did not meet the approval of 
the populace. There were those who thought hero wor- 
ship unbecoming, unconstitutional, and dangerous in a 
repubhcan form of government. This sentiment in time 
gave rise to a new party, with a new doctrine called 
Jeffersonian Republicanism, later called Jeffersonian De- 
mocracy, and among whose members were many of 
Washington's best friends. On the 2ist of March, I 79 1, 
Washington left Philadelphia to make a tour of the south- 
ern states. Returning to Philadelphia to attend a meeting 
of Congress July 6, i 791, he again received an enthusiastic 
greeting. The year 1 792 opened with many marks of 
esteem on the part of the people of Philadelphia for their 
beloved and respected President. On his birthday he 
attended a ball given in his honor, which was remarkable 
for a brilliant display of beauty, taste, and elegance. 



286 

Congress went to his home in a body to congratulate him, 
as did also the militia and many corporate bodies, and 
here they found a bountiful entertainment provided. In 
the following month, March 23, fifty Indian chiefs, headed 
by Sa-go-ya-wat-ha, better known as Red Jacket, visited 
Washington regarding a treaty of peace. As a token of 
friendship, his Excellency presented Red Jacket with a 
large silver medal on which was engraved the design of 
Washington in uniform standing and handing the calumet, 
or pipe of peace, to an Indian chief. The reverse side bore 
the United States shield on the breast of an American 
eagle, and Washington's head surrounded by a halo of 
light breaking through a cloud, and by thirteen stars. 
This medal was probably the first of the kind ever pre- 
sented by the government, and is still in existence in 
Buffalo, New York. 

It is interesting to know that Washington relieved 
himself of the cares of state by indulging in the amuse- 
ments of the city. Thus, on the 5th of June, 1792, one 
of the Philadelphia daily papers notified its readers that 
it had ''Authority to inform the Public that the PRESI- 
DENT of the United States intends to honor the 
Theater with his Presence this P^vening." We note also 
that Washington did not spend the entire year in Phila- 
delphia; but as the heat of July became oppressive in the 
city, he returned with his family to Mount Vernon for the 
summer months. 

On the 6th of November we again find Washington 
in Philadelphia, delivering his annual address before Con- 
gress. When he entered the council chamber the clock 
was striking the hour of twelve, and fifteen guns were 



28; 

fired as a salute to the man whom the nation dehghted to 
honor. At the close of the first presidential term, which 
had been fixed at four years, Washington's popularity was 
so great that he was unanimously reelected. A committee 
of Congress waited upon him, February 15, 1793, and no- 
tified him of the trust which the people were pleased to 
place in his hands. This notice of reelection, coming so 
near his birthday, made the occasion one of great interest 
in the city of Philadelphia. Every half hour the old Lib- 
erty Bell and the bells of Christ Church rang out the con- 
gratulations of the public. The artillery fired fifteen 
rounds, for two States had been added to the Union, 
and the light infantry paraded up and down Market Street, 
saluting the President at his home. 

This event was an occasion of great joy to the nation 
as well as to the citizens of Philadelphia. On the 4th of 
March, 1793, Washington came to the Statehouse in an 
elegant white coach drawn by six fine vvliite horses. His 
motto was engraved on the harness, and his crest was on 
the panels of his coach, while his postilions and outriders 
wore bright tasseled caps and uniform. He was pre- 
ceded by an usher, who motioned back the spectators with 
a long white wand. Washington was dressed in a black 
velvet suit, black silk stockings, and diamond knee buckles. 
His hair was powdered and dressed in a black silk cover, 
tied with a black silk ribbon. His hat, which he carried in 
his hand, was decorated with an American cockade, and by 
his side hung a light dress sword. He entered the Senate 
Chamber of Congress Hall, and in a few brief words ex- 
pressed his appreciation of the people's confidence in re- 
electing him President of the United States. The oath of 



288 



office was administered by Judge Gushing. The hall was 
crowded with men and women, and as he turned to depart 
the audience gave him three hearty cheers. 

During Washington's second administration war was 
declared between France and Great Britain. The French 
sent over a minister, Edmund Gharles Genest, to ask the 
United States to aid them in fighting the British, whereupon 
Washington issued a proclamation at Philadelphia, on the 
2d of April, forbidding Americans to take any part in the 
contest, and declaring the United States a neutral power. 
Citizen Genest w^as indignant and endeavored to stir up a 
mob in Philadelphia. Washington and his cabinet united in 

having Genest re- 
called to France. 
When the yel- 
low fever broke 
out in Philadel- 
phia, Congress 
decided to meet 
at Germar own, 
and to that place 
President Wash- 
ington moved 
November i , 
1793. The house 
in which he re- 
sided is still 
.standing. No. 5442 Germantown Avenue, directly opposite 
Mill Street. The succeeding meeting of Congress, how- 
ever, convened at Philadelphia, December 2, 1793, and 
on the next day Washington delivered an address which 




5442 Germantown Avenue. 



289 

astonished the statesmen of Europe with its wisdom and 
firmness, and which has since become the basis of our for- 
eign poHcy. 

Washington deHvered an address before both Houses of 
Congress December 8, i 795. Up to this time he had been 
always sure of his official acts meeting the approval of 
the people ; but there had arisen much adverse criticism 
on account of Jay's treaty with Great Britain, so that it was 
doubtful how Congress and the nation would receive his 
message. Congress, however, approved of his policy, and 
in time the people not only became reconciled to the 
treaty, but saw its wisdom and acknowledged that Wash- 
ington was wiser than they. 

The following year, December 7, 1796, Washington 
delivered his annual address in the Hall of Representa- 
tives before Congress and the largest assembly that ever 
greeted him. Among those present were the British, 
Spanish, and Portuguese ministers. In this address he, 
as chief executive of the nation, bade his grateful con- 
stituents, the people of the United States, a public farewell. 

The morning of February 22, 1797, was ushered in by 
the sound of guns and the ringing of bells, and at twelve 
o'clock noon the federal salute was given. This was the 
celebration of the sixty-fifth birthday of Washington. 
All day long delegates went to his house to congratulate 
him with every mark of affection and esteem. The Presi- 
dent was filled with emotion, for he was nearing the time 
when he was to leave a host of tried and true Philadel- 
phia friends, who had adhered to him in all his military 
and civic trials, and who had enjoyed with him many 
social pleasures. • Mrs. Washington, too, was moved to 

STO. OF PHH.. — 19 



290 

tears at the expressions of gratitude on the part of her 
many friends in Philadelphia. It is said that when Mrs. 
Washington gave her last levee, March 3, President 
Washington, with a smile, raised his glass, and amid the 
merry toasts said : " Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 
last time I shall drink your health as a public man. I do 
it w^ith sincerity, and wishing you all possible happiness." 
These were sad w^ords, and tears were shed at the thought 
of breaking old associations. The following day John 
Adams became President of the United States, and the 
merchants of Philadelphia took advantage of the occasion 
to show their heartfelt appreciation of President Washing- 
ton's administration by giving him an entertainment at 
Ricketts's Amphitheater, Sixth and Chestnut streets. 
As he entered the building the band played '' Washing- 
ton's March," and as the curtain was raised there was 
presented to view a full-length painting of Washington. 

The Father of his Country had now fulfilled his mission 
and was about to return to Mount Vernon. On the 
9th of March, 1797, ex-President Washington and his 
family started on their journey, carrying with them many 
pleasant memories and the w^ell wishes of every citizen of 
Philadelphia. 

CONGRESS HALL. 

CONGRESS HALL is situated on the northwest corner 
of Independence Square. This building is famous as 
the meeting place of the United States Congress from 1790 
to 1800; here earnest statesmen assembled to preserve 



291 

those principles enunciated in Carpenters' Hall, developed 
in Independence Hall, and subsequently engrossed in the 
Constitution of the United States; and here were per- 
fected and put into actual operation the laws of this 
republic. It was in Congress Hall that George Wash- 




Congress Hall. 



ington took the oath of office for the second time as 
President of the United States, March 4, i 793 ; here John 
Adams, the second President of the United States, was 
inaugurated, March 4, 1797; and it was here, December 
7, 1796, that President Washington delivered his beautiful 
and impressive Farewell Address to the people of the 
United States. 

When Andrew Hamilton built the Statehouse, now 



292 

known as Independence Hall, it was his intention that 
proper county and city buildings should be erected for the 
use of officials. The plan was in time carried out, and the 
county building, now known as Congress Hall, was erected 
between 1787 and 1789. 

On the 4th of March, i 789, the day on which Washing- 
ton was inaugurated the first President of the United States, 
and the new government went into operation, the Penn- 
sylvania Assembly luiaiiinioiisly resolved : 

'* That the members of the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the United States, from this State, be author- 
ized to make a respectful offer to Congress of the use of 
any or all the public buildings in Philadelphia, the prop- 
erty of the State, and of the building lately erected on the 
State House Square, belonging to the City and County of 
Philadelphia, in case Congress should at any time incline 
to make choice of that city for the temporary residence of 
the federal government." 

The third session of the United States Congress met in 
this building December 6, 1790. Congress occupied this 
hall for ten years, the House of Representatives meeting 
in the large room on the first floor and the Senate occupy- 
ing the entire second floor; and since that time the build- 
ing has been known as Congress Hall. 

The following extract will help us to picture a meeting 
of the Senate : 

" In a very plain chair, without canopy, and a small 
mahogany table before him, festooned at the sides and 
front with green silk, Mr. Adams, the Vice President, sat 
as President of the Senate, facing the north. Among the 
thirty senators of that day there was observed constantly 



293 

during the debate the most deHghtful silence, the most 
beautiful order, gravity, and dignity of manner. They 
all appeared every morning, full powdered, and dressed 
as age or fancy might suggest, and in the richest material." 

The Senate Chamber has been carefully restored, and 
now appears as it did when occupied by Congress. For 
this restoration we are indebted to the Pennsylvania So- 
ciety of Colonial Dames of America, who hold their meet- 
ings in the room adjoining the Senate Chamber. The 
present entrance to Congress Hall is on Sixth Street, but 
it was formerly on Chestnut Street. The first room as we 
enter the hall was originally the Chamber of the Represen- 
tatives ; it is now occupied by the Department of Law of 
the University of Pennsylvania. The Senate Chamber was 
on the second floor, and is arranged as it was when the 
Senate first met here, with the exception of a gallery which 
was built in i 795 and which has a seating capacity of three 
hundred persons. During the restoration of this room the 
platform on which Washington stood when he took the 
oath of office for the second time as President of the United 
States was carefully preserved. The boards were too far 
gone to be used again, but enough of the delicate hand 
rail and of the steps was left to enable the workmen to 
make an exact copy of the original. The fireplaces in 
this room are the original ones, and the thirty chairs are 
made of the wood from the old trees which grew in In- 
dependence Square. An old clock made by David Rit- 
tenhouse about the year 1770 still measures time as in 
days of yore. 

On the northeast wall of Congress Hall is a monument 
on which is inscribed : 



294 

In this Building 

Sat 

The first Senate 

and 

The first House of Representatives 

of the 

UNITED STATES 

of America 

Herein 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 

WAS INAUGURATED PRESIDENT 

March 4 1793 

and closed his official career 

HEREIN Also 

John Adams 
was inaugurated the 2nd President 
of the 
UNITED STATES MARCH 4 1797 

Close by is another tablet with the following inscription 

The 
County Building 

ERECTED 1788-9 

The first floor was occupied from the 6th of De- 
cember 1790 to 1800 by the House of Representa- 
tives of the United States. The rear of the second 
floor was occupied by the Senate of the United 
States. George Washington was inaugurated Pres- 
ident of the United States March 4th 1793 

He took his oath of Office on the balcony in view 
of the citizens and made his inaugural address in 
the Senate Chamber before both Houses of Con- 
gress 

John Adams was inaugurated here March 4th 1797 

It was occupied by Congress until 1800 



295 

It was in Congress Hall that the Constitution of the 
United States first went into practical operation. Here 
Congress and the executive authority instituted the Mint, 
created a national currency, founded the Bank of the 
United States, and organized the United States Army and 
Navy. From here an order emanated to conduct an Indian 
war which was successfully carried on by General Wayne. 
From here Washington called out the troops and went to 
quell the " Whisky Insurrection " in the interior of the 
State. During the time Congress sat here, three States, 
Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee, were admitted into 
the Union. It was here that Congress considered and 
confirmed Jay's famous commercial treaty with England, 
and later prepared for a war against France. 

It was in the Senate Chamber of this building that Wash- 
ington took the oath of office a second time as President 
of the United States. Mr. Stansbury, who was a schoolboy 
at the time, describes the event as follows : 

** True to the appointed hour (Washington was the most 
punctual of men), an agitation was observable on the 
outskirts of the crowd, which gradually opened and gave 
space for the approach of an elegant white coach, drawn 
by six superb white horses, having on its four sides beau- 
tiful designs of the four seasons, painted by Cipriani. It 
slowly made its way till it drew up immediately in front 
of the Hall. The rush was now tremendous. But as the 
coach opened there issued from it two gentlemen with 
long white wands, who, with some difficulty, parted the 
people so as to open a passage from the carriage to the 
steps. As the person of the President emerged from the 
carriage a universal shout rent the air and continued as 



296 

he deliberately ascended the steps. Never did a more 
majestic personage present himself to the public gaze. 
As the President entered, all arose and remained standing 
until he had ascended the steps at the upper end of the 
chamber and taken his seat in the Speaker's chair. 

" It was an impressive moment. The silence of expec- 
tation was unbroken and profound. Every breath was 
suspended. He was dressed in a full suit of the richest 
black velvet ; his lower limbs in shortclothes and diamond 
knee buckles and black silk stockings. His shoes, which 
were brightly japanned, were surmounted with large 
square silver buckles. His hair, carefully displayed in 
the manner of the day, was richly powdered, and gathered 
behind into a black silk bag, on which was a bow of black 
ribbon. In his hand he carried a plain cocked hat, deco- 
rated with the American cockade. He wore by his side a 
light, slender dress sword, in a green shagreen scabbard, 
with a richly ornamented hilt. His gait was deliberate, 
his manner solemn, but self-possessed, and he presented 
altogether the most august human figure I had then or 
have since beheld. 

" At the head of the Senate stood Thomas Jefferson, in 
a blue coat, single-breasted, with large, bright, basket 
buttons ; his vest and smallclothes of crimson. I re- 
member being struck by his animated countenance of a 
brick-red hue, his bright eye and foxy hair, as well as by 
his tall, gaunt, ungainly form and square shoulders. A 
perfect contrast was presented by the pale, reflective face 
and delicate figure of James Madison, and above all, by 
the short, burly, bustling form of General Knox, with 
ruddy cheek, prominent eye, and still more prominent 



297 

proportions of another kind. In the semicircle, which 
was formed behind the chair and on either hand of the 
President, my boyish gaze was attracted by the splendid 
attire of the Chevalier D'Yrujo, the Spanish Embassador, 
then the only foreign minister near our infant government. 
Having retained his seat for a moment while the members 
resumed their seats, the President rose, and taking from 
his breast a roll of manuscript, proceeded to read his ad- 
dress. He read as he did everything else, with a singular 
serenity and composure, with manly ease and dignity, but 
without the smallest attempt at display." 

The follow^ing day, March 5, the Philadelphia daily 
papers announced : 

" Yesterday, our beloved and venerable GEORGE WASH- 
INGTON came to the Senate Chamber of Congress, and 
took the usual oath of office, which was administered to 
him by Judge Cushing, at noon, in presence of an im- 
mense concourse of his fellow citizens, members of both 
Houses of the United States Legislature, and several 
foreign ministers, consuls, etc. There was likewise an 
assemblage of ladies, attending on this solemn occasion, 
and the day was extremely serene; for, Providence has 
always smiled on the day of this man, and on the glori- 
ous cause which he has ever espoused, of LIBERTY and 
EQUALITY. 

" After taking the oath, the President retired as he had 
come, without pomp or ceremony ; but on his departure 
from the House, the people could no longer restrain 
obeying the genuine dictates of their hearts: they saluted 
him with three cheers." 

It was in Congress Hall, in the chamber of Represent- 



298 

atlves, that John Adams, the second President of the 
United States, was inaugurated, March 4, 1797. George 
Washington, as retiring President, and Thomas Jefferson, 
as Vice President elect, were present, as well as many- 
officials. After an address by Mr. Adams, the oath of 
office was administered by Chief Justice Oliver Ells- 
worth, The President then bowed to the audience and 
retired with General Washington. 

Perhaps the most impressive event ever held in the 
chamber of the Representatives at Congress Hall was the 
farewell address of President Washington, December 7, 
1 796. The original manuscript in Washington's hand- 
writing is now in the Lenox Library, New York, and 
bears the date September 19, 1796. Washington con- 
cluded his address with these words : 

" The situation in which I now stand for the last time, 
in the midst of the representatives of the people of the 
United States, naturally recalls the period when the 
administration of the present form of government com- 
menced, and I cannot omit the occasion to congratulate 
you and my country on the success of the experiment, 
nor to repeat my fervent supplications to the Supreme 
Ruler of the universe and Sovereign Arbiter of nations 
that His providential care may be still extended to the 
United States, that the virtue and happiness of the 
people may be preserved, and that the government which 
they have Instituted for the protection of their liberties 
may be perpetual." 

The Senate, in reply to Washington, said : " The most 
effectual consolation that can offer for the loss we are 
about to sustain arises from the animating reflection that 



299 

the influence of your example will extend to your succes- 
sors, and the United States thus continue to enjoy an 
able, upright, and energetic administration." 

In Hke manner the House of Representatives tendered 
to Washington an expression of their admiration and es- 
teem, saying: ** May you long enjoy that liberty which is 
so dear to you, and to which your name will ever be so 
dear. May your own virtue and a nation's prayers obtain 
the happiest sunshine for the decHne of your days, and 
the choicest of future blessings. For our country's sake, 
and for the sake of republican liberty, it is our earnest 
wish that your example may be the guide of your succes- 
sors, and thus, after being the ornament and safeguard of 
the present age, become the patrimony of our descendants." 

On December i8, 1799, announcement of the death of 
Washington was made in the House of Representatives 
by John Marshall, who said : 

" Our Washington is no more ; he lives only in his own 
great actions and in the hearts of an affectionate and 
afflicted people. More than any other individual, and as 
much as to individual was possible, has he contributed to 
found this our wide-spreading empire, and to give to the 
Western world its independence and its freedom." 

He then proposed that Congress should wait upon and 
condole with the President ; that the Speaker's chair should 
be shrouded with black ; that the members of Congress 
wear mourning; that the President of the United States 
should direct that a copy of the resolutions be transmitted 
to Mrs. Washington, with words of sympathy, and a re- 
quest that the remains of her husband might be interred 
at the capitol of the republic ; and that a committee be 



300 

appointed from the House and one from the Senate to 
consider the most suitable manner of paying homage to 
the memory of the man " first in war, first in peace, and 
first in the hearts of his countrymen." 

The next day the report was officially confirmed in the 
Senate by John Adams, President of the United States. 

Although Washington was buried at Mount Vernon, 
preparations were made to hold memorial services in 
Philadelphia on December 26, and on that day the Con- 
gress, the Society of the Cincinnati, and a large assembly 
of citizens met at the Statehouse and escorted the empty 
bier, on which were placed the general's hat and sword, 
to the Zion Church, Fourth and Arch streets, where Gen- 
eral Henry Lee, an intimate friend of Washington, pro- 
nounced a memorable eulogy. 

Congress sat in this building for the last time May 14, 
1800, when the first session of the Sixth Federal Con- 
gress ended. Before they adjourned, however, they re- 
solved a vote of thanks ** to the city authorities of Phila- 
delphia for the convenient and elegant accommodations 
furnished by them for the use of the Senate during the 
residence of the National Government in the city." 



3>8^C 



BENJAMIN RUSH. 

BENJAMIN RUSH was one of the most noted and 
useful men who ever lived and labored in the city of 
Philadelphia. He was born in Byberry, or " Old Phila- 
delphia," December 24, 1745. His ancestors came from 



301 



England in 1683. He was the eldest son of John Rush, 
a farmer, whose honesty was proverbial His mother's 
family name was Hall ; she was a woman of great piety, 
industry, and force of 
character. When Ben- 
jamin was six years of 
age, his father died, and 
his mother moved into 
the city. At the age of 
eight he was sent to an 
academy at Nottingham, 
Maryland, underthe tui- 
tion of his uncle, the 
Rev. Samuel Finley, a 
noted scholar and an ex- 
cellent instructor, who 




Dr. Rush's Book-plate. 



in after years became president of Princeton College. At 
fourteen Benjamin entered Princeton College, and two 
years later graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. 
His inclination led him to study law, but by the advice 
of his mother and Dr. Finley he decided to take up the 
study of medicine. Entering the office of Dr. John Redman 
of Philadelphia, in 1761, he read medicine and attended 
the lectures of Dr. Shippen, the first anatomical lecturer 
in Philadelphia. As a student he was energetic, intelli- 
gent, and so conscientious that he missed but two days 
during his entire course of study. While a student in 
Philadelphia he translated into English the Greek apho- 
risms of Hippocrates, and wrote a remarkable eulogy on 
the Rev. Gilbert Tennent. 

In 1766 Benjamin Rush went to Edinburgh, Scotland, 



302 



and graduated from the Medical Department of the Uni- 
versity of Edinburgh in 1 768. As a student at Edinburgh, 

Rush was so popular 
that he was granted the 
freedom of the city. He 
then went to London to 
visit the hospitals, and 
while there met Dr. 
Franklin, who greatly 
influenced his political 
career, advised him to 
visit Paris in the interest 
of his profession, and, it 
is said, advanced him the 
means to do so. In 1766 
Dr. Finley, president of 
Princeton College, died, 
and Benjamin Rush was 
app'ointed to secure for his alma mater the services of the 
eminent Dr. Witherspoon of Paisley, Scotland. 

In the summer of 1769, Benjamin Rush, with the de- 
gree of Doctor of Medicine and with recommendations 
from eminent professional men in Europe, returned home. 
He was. immediately elected professor of chemistry in the 
College of Philadelphia, and began his career as a prac- 
titioner and lecturer. In 1789, Dr. Rush was elected to 
the chair of Theory and Practice of Medicine ; and in i 791 
he was elected to the chair of Institutes of Medicine and 
Clinical Medicine. Upon the resignation of Dr. Kuhn in 
1797, Dr. Rush continued the lectures of the former on 
the Theory and Practice of Medicine in connection with 




Benjamin Rush. 



303 

the lectures on his own subjects, and in 1800 the two chairs 
were united and he was elected to the new position. Dur- 
ing his professorship of forty-four years more than twenty- 
two hundred and fifty students attended his lectures, and 
through his labors Philadelphia became the center of the 
science of medicine in the United States. 

As a lecturer, Dr. Rush was pleasing and impressive. 
His lectures were simple and finished in expression, and 
remarkable for their originality and accuracy of detail. He 
was always punctual at his lectures, and for thirty years 
never varied ten minutes. He taught his students that 
observation and judgment should take the place of reading 
and memorizing. He advised his pupils to " lay every 
person they meet with, whether in a packet boat, a stage 
wagon, or a public road, under contribution for facts on 
physical subjects." He also taught them sympathy for 
the poor, saying: "Let the poor of every description be 
the object of your peculiar care. Imagine you hear the 
voice of the good Samaritan sounding in your ears, * Take 
care of him, and I will repay thee,' " and added that the 
poor were his best patients, for God was their paymaster. 

Benjamin Rush was a patriot, and by his pen and per- 
sonal influence gave great aid to the cause of independence, 
to the formation of the State and National constitutions, 
and to the founding of public institutions. In June, 1776, 
he w^as elected a member of the Provincial Assembly of 
Pennsylvania, and was chairman of the committee that re- 
ported to Congress that it had become expedient to declare 
the United Colonies free and independent States. This 
report, presented on June 24, and said to have been written 
by Dr. Rush, was unanimously adopted. A remarkable 



304 

feature of the report was that it anticipated the sentiment 
and even the phraseology of the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. As a member of Congress, Benjamin Rush signed 
that document, August, i 776, an act of which he was justly 
proud. In 1787 he was elected a member of the conven- 
tion which ratified the Constitution of the United States, 
and in the same year he was elected a member of the 
convention which framed a constitution for the State of 
Pennsylvania. 

Dr. Rush was a reformer and a philanthropist. As 
a temperance advocate, he lectured and wrote on the 
evil effects of alcohol upon the health, morals, and prop- 
erty of the individual and the nation. He aided greatly 
in securing the emancipation of slaves in Pennsylvania, 
and published stirring pamphlets on the subject. He was 
one of the founders of the Society for the Protection of 
Free Negroes, and in 1802 he was elected to succeed 
Dr. Franklin as president of the Pennsylvania Society for 
the Abolition of Slavery. In 1786 he established the 
Philadelphia- Dispensary, the first institution of its kind in 
the United States ; this proved so beneficial that other 
cities soon founded similar institutions. He also aided 
Dr. Franklin in organizing a " Society of Political In- 
quiry," and in 1787 proposed that legal punishments be 
private and consist of solitary confinement and labor, low 
diet, and religious instruction. In 1788 he published a 
pamphlet denying the right of government to execute 
criminals, even for murder; and through his efforts the 
legislature in 1794 abolished capital punishment for all 
crimes except that of murder in the first degree, and also 
adopted his idea regarding solitary confinement and labor. 



305 

Dr. Rush was an earnest advocate of the pubHc school 
system. He says: " There is but one method of prevent- 
ing crime and rendering a repubHcan form of government 
durable, and that is by means of proper modes and places 
of education, and this can be done effectually only by the 
interference and aid of the legislature. And I am so 
deeply impressed with the truth of this opinion that 
were this evening to be the last of my life, I would not 
only say to my beloved native country, with the patriot 
of Venice, * Esto perpetua,' but would add, as my parting 
advice, to establish and support public schools in every 
part of the State." Again he says: "Let there be free 
schools established in every township, or in districts con- 
sisting of a hundred families. In these schools let chil- 
dren be taught to read and write and the use of figures ; 
by this plan the whole State will be tied together by one 
system of education and become one great and enlight- 
ened family." 

In regard to higher and moral education. Dr. Rush 
.said : ** An education in our own is to be preferred to an 
education in a foreign country. The only foundation for 
a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. 
Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue 
there can be no liberty ; and liberty is the object and life 
of all republican governments." He opposed the study 
of the dead languages, and said : '' The cultivation of these 
languages is a great obstacle to the cultivation and per- 
fection of the English language." In regard to the edu- 
cation of women, he said; "Let the women be properly 
educated, and they will not only make and administer the 
laws, but form manners and character." Dr. Rush aided in 

STO. OF PHH.. — 20 



3o6 

founding Dickinson College, and greatly advanced the 
interests of the University of Pennsylvania. 

The year 1793 brought to a test the strength and 
talent of Dr. Rush, and it left him a national reputation 
as a physician. In this year the yellow fever broke out 
in Philadelphia, and an average of thirty-eight died daily 
for one hundred days. Business \vas suspended, and the 
hearse and the doctor's gig were the sole vehicles on the 
street. At first all the physicians were unsuccessful. All 
recourse to favorite systems and remedies was without 
avail. As the disease assumed a more malignant form, 
Dr. Rush lost patients every day. He had often declared 
that '' Providence in its goodness always provides a rem- 
edy," but now he almost despaired of finding a cure. One 
day he found a manuscript article on the subject of yellow 
fever in Virginia, written by Dr. Mitchell in i 741, and sent 
to Dr. Rush by Dr. Franklin. It read: "I can affirm 
that I have given a purge in this case when the pulse 
was so low that it could hardly be felt, and the debility 
extreme, yet both one and the other have been restored 
by it." This sentence was the basis of an immediate and 
successful practice. Of five critical cases, four recovered ; 
and on the loth of September, 1793, Dr. Rush wrote in 
his diary: "Thank God! Out of one hundred patients 
whom I have visited or prescribed for this day, I have 
lost none." He notified the College of Physicians of his 
discovery. Other physicians adopted his method of treat- 
ment, and it has been estimated that six thousand people 
were thus saved from an untimely death. 

During the epidemic the house of Dr. Rush was filled 
with patients awaiting treatment, and from the Sth of 



307 

September to the 15th he prescribed for and visited from 
one hundred to one hundred and twenty patients daily. 
His friends remonstrated and urged him to go. to the 
country, but he said : " 1 have resolved to stick to my 
principles, my practice, and my patients to the last ex- 
tremity." In reply to an inquiry from one of his students 
whether he intended to remain throughout the plague, he 
answered : ** As for myself, I am determined to remain. I 
may fall a victim to the epidemic, and so may you, gentle- 
men. But I prefer, since I am placed here by Divine 
Providence, to fall in performing my duty, if such must be 
the consequence of my staying upon the ground, than to 
secure my life by fleeing from the post of duty allotted 
in the providence of God. I will remain, if I remain 
alone." 

Incessant labor and loss of sleep affected body and 
mind, and Dr. Rush at length fell sick; but his life was 
saved by the skill of one of his students. On one occasion 
he dreamed that he was driving hastily through the street 
to visit the sick, when a great crowd of people stopped his 
carriage. As he insisted upon driving on, a poor woman 
with outstretched hands pleaded: " Oh, doctor, don't turn 
away from the poor! You were doomed to die of the 
yellow fever, but the prayers of the poor were heard by 
Heaven, and have saved your life." 

The success of Dr. Rush in reforms and in practice made 
him enemies. Most prominent of these was William Cob- 
bett, who edited a paper called " Peter Porcupine's Ga- 
zette," in which he attacked the character of Dr. Rush. 
At first Dr. Rush took no notice of it, but at last, urged by 
his friends, he prosecuted Cobbett, and a jury rendered a 



3o8 

verdict of five thousand dollars' damages, which money 
Dr. Rush distributed among the poor. 

Many tokens of appreciation were tendered Dr. Rush 
for his labors. The King of Prussia, in 1805, sent him a 
gold medal as a testimonial for an essay on the subject of 
yellow fever in Philadelphia, and in 1807 the Queen of 
Etruria sent him a similar medal. In 181 1 he received a 
diamond ring of great value from the Emperor of Russia 
as a token of that monarch's high esteem for his writ- 
ings. In 18 1 2 he received the degree of LL.D. from 
Yale College. 

Dr. Rush held many public offices besides those already 
mentioned. He was surgeon to the Pennsylvania navy 
from September 17, 1775, to July i, 1776, and surgeon at 
the Pennsylvania Hospital for twenty-nine years. In July, 
1777, he was elected physician general of the military hos- 
pitals, and was of great service to the sick and wounded. 
Owing to the mismanagement of the hospital stores and 
the coldness existing between General Washington and 
himself, Dr. Rush resigned his position in 1778; and al- 
though without means at that time, he refused to accept 
any pay for his service in the army. He was port 
physician at Philadelphia from 1 790 to i 793, and treasurer 
of the United States Mint from 1799 until his death. He 
was an active. member of nearly every society in Philadel- 
phia, medical, literary, and benevolent, and an honorary 
member of many similar societies in foreign countries. 
He was an original member of the American Philosophical 
Society of Philadelphia, and served as its vice president 
in 1 799-1 800. 

The writings of Dr. Rush have claimed the attention of 



309 

the medical world for their novelty, extent, variety, and 
accuracy. One of his earliest publications was a collection 
of essays, literary, moral, and philosophical. In 1 774 he de- 
livered the annual oration before the American Philosophi- 
cal Society on the '' Natural History of Medicine among 
the Indians of North America." From memoranda which 
he kept during his entire life he compiled his most famous 
work, entitled "Medical Inquiries and Observations," which 
was subsequently revised and enlarged. A number of his 
lectures were published in a work entitled " Sixteen Intro- 
ductory Lectures." Six months before his death he gave 
to the world his inquiries on the " Diseases of the Mind." 
Very early in life Benjamin Rush became convinced of 
the truth and utility of religion, and his life is a beautiful 
picture of genuine piety and honest faith. Religion was a 
frequent topic of conversation with him, because of its in- 
fluence upon the individual and the state, and because of 
the consolation it offers the mind. He admired the re- 
mark of the good Bishop Burnet that " a man living accord- 
ing to the rules of religion becomes the wisest, the best, 
the happiest creature he is capable of being." He at- 
tended church regularly, and said : " If there were no 
hereafter, individuals and society would be great gainers 
by attending public worship every Sunday. Rest from 
labor in the house of God winds up the machine of both 
mind and body better than anything else, and thereby in- 
vigorates them for the labors of the week." He believed 
that the Scriptures should be taught in every schoolroom, 
and as vice president of the Philadelphia Bible Society in 
1 79 1 he wrote a defense of the Bible as a text-book in 
the schools. 



310 

Dr. Rush died at Philadelphia April 19, 181 3, and was 
buried in Christ Church graveyard. His grave is un- 
marked by any monument. It is written of his death 
that " from one end of the United States to the other the 
event caused sorrow, for since the death of Washington no 
man, perhaps, in America was better known, more sin- 
cerely beloved, or held in higher admiration and esteem." 
And again: "The professional reputation and the private 
virtues of the Father of American Medicine should always 
be holily cherished and dearly prized by the whole profes- 
sion of the United States, but nowhere with sincerer rev- 
erence than in the city of Philadelphia." 



3>©« 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 

ONE stormy night in May, 1776, a vessel was driven 
by a gale into the Delaware Bay. Her captain 
cast anchor and waited for the morning ; but when daylight 
came the fog was so dense that he was not able to determine 
his location. Discharging a cannon, he was answered by the 
captain of a pilot boat, of whom he inquired where he was 
and what he should do. " You are in the Delaware Bay, 
and you will have to go upstream to Philadelphia," was 
the reply. " You dare not venture out, for there is 
a swarm of British cruisers outside of the capes on the 
lookout for prizes." " But I have no American money," 
replied the stranger. " I will loan you the money," 
answered Captain King who was aboard the pilot boat. 
Whereupon he generously offereci the stranger five dol- 



311 




Stephen Girard. 



lars to pay his pilotage, which was gratefully accepted. 
This was the most valuable loan ever made in the inter- 
est of Philadelphia. The 
stranger, who thus came to 
our city by chance rather 
than by design, was Ste- 
phen Girard, whose mem- 
ory is cherished by every 
citizen of Philadelphia. 

Stephen Girard, the eld- 
est son of Captain Pierre 
Girard, naval knight, and 
Anna Maria Lafargue, 
was born May 20, 1750, 
near the city of Bordeaux, 
France. At the age of 
eight he lost his right eye by the accidental bursting of 
an oyster shell, and for this defect he was often ridiculed 
by his boyish companions. At an early age he lost his 
mother, and soon after was brought under the control of 
an unsympathetic stepmother. All this, joined with the 
stern treatment of his father, had an influence on his sen- 
sitive nature, and aided in forming a disposition which men 
called morose, sullen, and hard. Impatient of the restraints 
of home, he longed to follow the calling of his ancestors, 
who were mariners. Upon a disagreement with his father, 
he said : " I ivill leave your house. Give me a venture on 
any ship that sails from Bordeaux, and I will go at once 
where you will never see me again." At the age of four- 
teen he went on board the ship Pclerin as cabin boy. For 
nine years he followed the sea, making six voyages to the 



312 

West Indies, and rose grade by grade until he became 
first mate of the vessel. During this time he had become, 
by careful study, a skillful navigator. At that time there 
was a law in France that no man should command a vessel 
who was not twenty-five years of age and had not sailed 
two cruises in a ship of the royal navy. Girard was then 
but twenty-three years of age, and had sailed on none but 
merchant vessels. His father's influence, however, was 
sufficient to overcome this obstacle, and permission was 
granted him at Bordeaux, October 4, 1773, to act as 
" Captain, Master, and Patron of a Merchant Vessel." 
Taking his *' venture " of about three thousand dollars 
given him by his father and also its accrued profits, he 
sailed to Santo Domingo, where, disposing of his cargo, he 
reloaded with produce and set sail for the United States, 
arriving at the port of New York July, i 774. Here he met 
Thomas Randall, also a merchant, who appointed him an 
officer on one of his vessels, and with whom, in the follow- 
ing year, he entered into partnership. It was while thus 
employed that he came into the Delaware Bay, narrowly 
escaping capture by the British. Arriving in Philadelphia, 
he sold his vessel, dissolved the partnership, and opened 
a small store in Water Street, where he carried on the 
business of a grocer and wine bottler. 

Soon after his arrival in Philadelphia Stephen Girard 
made the acquaintance of Mr. Lumm, a well-known ship- 
builder, who had a daughter, Mary, about sixteen years of 
age, noted for her great personal charms. As she went one 
morning in her bare feet to a pump for a pail of water, 
Girard saw her, and was captivated by her airy and un- 
conscious grace. He sought her acquaintance, and on 



313 

June 6, 1777, they were married at St. Paul's Protestant 
Episcopal Church. They lived in Water Street until the 
following September, when, on the approach of the British 
army, Girard moved to Mount Holly and purchased a 
small farm. He returned to Philadelphia after the British 
evacuated the city. 

Mr. Lumm built for him the WaterzvitcJi, a vessel 
which Girard prized so highly that he believed that she 
would never cause him loss. In 1780 Girard entered into 
partnership with Joseph Baldesqui to trade with Santo 
Domingo, but his partner proving incompetent, the firm 
dissolved in two years. In 178 1 he took the lease of a 
range of fireproof stores, and underlet them. 

This venture and others were so profitable that he was 
soon able to build a large vessel, the Two BrotJiers. His 
prosperity continued, and in 1790 he began building those 
fine merchant ships that became the pride of every port and 
made Philadelphia the first mercantile city in the Union. 
The Girard fleet was known in the seas of both hemi- 
spheres. He rarely lost a vessel. Rival merchants at- 
tributed his success to good luck, but he claimed that 
his " good luck " was merely the result of knowing his 
own business. He named his vessels after the famous 
French philosophers, Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu. 
This last-named vessel was captured by the La Paz, 
a British schooner, which Girard described as " a vessel 
about the size of a wood shallop." Though indignant that 
his well-armed vessel should so tamely submit, he entered 
into negotiations with the British commander, ransomed 
the ship for $180,000 in coin, and brought her to Phila- 
delphia, where he disposed of the cargo for $488,655. In 



314 

a letter to his brother, Stephen Girard says : " We are 
all the subjects of what you call ' the reverses of for- 
tune.' The great secret is to make good use of fortune, 
and when reverses do come, receive them with sang-froid, 
and by redoubled activity and economy endeavor to repair 
them." During the insurrection in Haiti, in 1793, several 
planters deposited their treasures, amounting to some 
$50,000, in a vessel belonging to Stephen Girard. It 
has been said that Girard's fortune was thus largely in- 
creased, but there is evidence that all articles were re- 
turned for which owners could be found, and that large 
amounts due him by the merchants remained unpaid. 

Stephen Girard became deeply interested in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle, and in the aid which his native country, 
France, was giving the colonies. He felt the justice of 
the American cause, and his innate love of liberty led him 
to cast his fate and fortune with the struggling patriots; 
and on October 2"] , 1778, he took the oath of allegiance 
to the United States. 

As a citizen Girard was ever ready to do his public duty. 
In 1802 he was elected to the common council of Phila- 
delphia. He was reelected in 1808, and so on until 18 19, 
when he was elected a member of the select council. For 
twenty-one consecutive years he served as port warden of 
the city. When the citizens met March 13, 1794, to con- 
sider what action should be taken regarding the losses of 
American shipowners by British cruisers on the high seas, 
Girard was appointed chairman. At a general meeting 
held on the i8th of March, the citizens agreed that they 
would " cheerfully support with their lives and fortunes 
the most expeditious and most effectual measures (which 



' 315 

appear to have been too long postponed) to procure a 
reparation for the past, to enforce safety for the future, 
to foster and protect the commercial interests, and to 
render respectable and respected among the nations of the 
world the justice, dignity, and power of the American 
Republic." Resolutions were also adopted " to extend to 
France and her citizens every favor which friendship can 
dictate and justice can allow." 

Stephen Girard was a firm friend of the United States 
Bank, believing that it facilitated business, established 
credit, and promoted industrial enterprises. In 1807 he 
began to concentrate all his available funds, amounting to 
nearly one million dollars, into the hands of Baring & Co., 
bankers in London. Prospects of war now loomed up be- 
tween Great Britain and America, and in order to exhaust 
the funds in the hands of Baring & Co., he instructed his 
agents, in 18 10, to buy American credits and British 
goods. The chief of these credits was United States 
Bank stock. The bank was not rechartered in 181 1, and 
the building was sold atone third of its original cost, and 
on May 12, 18 12, the United States Bank became ''The 
Bank of Stephen Girard." He retained the officers of 
the old institution, and succeeded to much of its business. 
The bank opened with a paid-up capital of one million 
two hundred thousand dollars, which was increased the 
following January by one hundred thousand dollars. The 
device of his notes was an American eagle and a ship under 
full sail. They were always signed by Stephen Girard 
and countersigned by his cashier, were redeemable in coin, 
and were never refused. 

During the War of 1812 Stephen Girard was the finan- 



3i6 



cial mainstay of the government. In 1814 the government 
funds and credit were completely exhausted, the Capitol 

at Washington had 
been destroyed, the 
army and navy were 
clamoring for sup- 
plies, and the State 
of Connecticut was 
proposing to secede 
from the Union. In 
this distress the gov- 
ernment offered sev- 
en per cent interest, 
and a bonus of thirty 
per cent, on a loan of 
fi\-e million dollars ; 
but when the day for 
closing the subscrip- 
tion came, not more 
than twenty thou- 
sand dollars had been 




Girard's Bank. 



subscribed. Americans were dismayed and disheartened. 
In this crisis Stephen Girard promptly subscribed the 
balance of the five million dollars, which enabled the gov- 
ernment to continue the war to a successful issue. In the 
same year, when the interest on the public debt could not 
be paid, he wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury offering 
to wait for his money or to receive in payment treasury 
notes. It has been stated that but for Girard the War 
of 1 81 2 could not have been carried on. 

In 1 8 16 President Madison rechartered the Second Bank 



317 

of the United States, and Girard was appointed one of the 
commissioners. But the people lacked faith in the credit 
and stability of the government, and it was not until Girard 
subscribed three million one hundred thousand dollars 
that confidence was established. In 1 829, when ruin threat- 
ened the State of Pennsylvania from extravagant internal 
improvements, Girard advanced one hundred thousand 
dollars to Governor Shulze upon his personal pledge that 
it should he returned. He also advanced temporary 
loans to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company. 
He loaned one hundred ten thousand dollars to the 
Schuylkill Navigation Company, and in 1823 paid the 
balance of their debt, amounting to two hundred sixty- 
five thousand eight hundred fifty dollars. 

When the yellow fever broke out in Philadelphia in i 793, 
the people were seized with a panic, and half the popula- 
tion fled from the city. Congress adjourned in dismay. 
The churches and schools were closed, and of four daily 
newspapers only one continued to be published. The city 
was deserted and desolate. Those who could not leave 
resorted to every conceivable means of preventing con- 
tagion. Some smoked tobacco constantly, even women 
and children ; others chewed garlic ; and no one ventured 
on the street without holding a handkerchief or sponge 
saturated with vinegar to the nose. Families were scat- 
tered, friends fled from one another, and handshaking was 
avoided. The streets were pervaded by an awful silence, 
that was broken only by the appalling rumble of the 
dead wagon. From August i to November 9, a period 
of one hundred one days, there were four thousand 
thirty-one burials, out of a population of twenty-five thou- 



318 

sand. The hospitals were in a horrible condition ; nurses 
could not be had at any price : to go into a house in 
which nearly every bed contained a dead body, and the 
floors reeked with filth, was courting death in its most 
dreadful form. When a committee was appointed to 
render assistance and look after the dead, only twelve 
would serve, and of these only two, Stephen Girard and 
Peter Helm, would volunteer to assist at the hospital. 
They were both wealthy, and might have fled to a place 
of safety ; but they went into the hospital and for sixty 
days performed the repulsive and revolting duties inci- 
dental to nursing patients afflicted with the plague. And 
more than this, Girard went into the infected districts, 
and alone and unaided carried the stricken victims of the 
pestilence to his carriage, and with them drove to the 
hospital. Twice afterwards, in 1797 and 1798, when Phila- 
delphia was visited by the plague, Girard took the lead, 
hesitating at nothing that needed to be done for man, 
woman, or child. When his friends praised him for his 
humane efforts, he replied : " I regret only that my 
strength and ability have not fully seconded my good 
will." 

Girard's domestic life did not prove a source of per- 
manent happiness to either himself or his wife. She was 
an American, not well educated ; he a Frenchman with 
a cold and somewhat intolerant nature. Eight years 
after marriage Mrs. Girard showed signs of melancholy. 
Girard spared no pains for .her restoration, consulting 
the most skillful physicians and removing her to a place 
in the country, but without permanent results. With his 
life thus clouded, he resumed his old occupation of a 



319 

mariner, and made a voyage to the Mediterranean. On 
his return he found an improvement in his wife's con- 
dition, so he decided upon a trip to Europe with her; 
but her disease returned, and on August 31, 1790, thir- 
teen years after their marriage and five years after her 
first signs of insanity, she was removed to the Penns}'!- 
vania Hospital, Twelfth and Spruce streets. Here she 
Hngered for twenty-five years, and died in 181 5. She 
was laid to rest in the grounds in front of the hospital, 
under the shade of a sycamore tree, according to the quiet 
ceremony of the Friends' burial service. Girard was pres- 
ent, and the silence of the ceremony was broken by his 
single remark, '' It is very wxll." 

The character of Stephen Girard has been regarded as 
an enigma. Imbittered as a child by the ridicule of his com- 
panions and by the treatment of his stepmother, he lacked 
to a large extent that personal sympathy which is so often 
the ornament of a strong character. As an employer he is 
said to have been exacting, and even harsh and cruel. He 
gave those in his employ nothing but their wages, and ex- 
acted from them promptness and fidelity, regarding this 
treatment the best for them and the best for his business. 
He was rigidly frugal in his personal habits, and as a rule 
refused to give aid to any who appealed for it at his door. 
This was a means of protection from incessant demands 
for charity rather than a lack of benevolence, for in public 
matters no one could be more open-handed than he was. 
His personal peculiarities led to severe and unjust criticism, 
but his exalted motives and noble deeds are now clearly 
recognized. He was fond of animals, and took great pride 
in his dog and horse. Children welcomed his coming 



320 

with joy, and he always remembered the Httle ones and 
pleased their childish fancies by making purchases for them. 
To his two nieces he was kind and considerate ; they were 
educated alike, were clothed alike, and were married from 
his house, and their children came there to play. For the 
orphan his house was an asylum until a comfortable home 
could be found elsewhere. 

Stephen Girard's life was one of constant labor, and in 
work he found his chief pleasure. The smallest details 
of his business received his personal attention, and even 
his leisure hours were spent in working on his farm near 
Philadelphia. He said : '' / do not value fortune. The 
love of labor is my highest ambition." Again he said: 
" When I rise in the morning my only effort is to labor 
so hard during the day that when night comes I may 
be enabled to sleep soundly." In later years he said: 
" I have the proud satisfaction to know that my conduct, 
my labor, and my economy have enabled me to do one 
hundred times more for my relatives than they altogether 
have ever done for me since the day of my birth. While 
my brothers were taught at college, I was the only one 
whose education was neglected ; but the love of labor, 
which has not left me yet, has placed me in the ranks of 
citizens useful to society. ... I was ver\' young when 
my father married again, and since then I can say with 
truth, I have made my way alone, with means gained from 
my nurse, the sea." 

At the age of seventy-eight Girard began to consider 
seriously what disposal he should make of his fortune. 
On one point his mind had long been made up. " No 
man," he said, " shall be a gentleman on iny money." To 



321 

aid him in making his will he employed William J. 
Duane, an eminent lawyer. They had many conferences, 
dining together on Sunday afternoons at Mr. Girard's 
country house and discussing the disposition of his wealth. 
When the general plan had been agreed upon, the two 
men closeted themselves for the space of three weeks, 
working out the details of one of the most remarkable wills 
ever made. The will embraced about twelve thousand 
words, and was written out three times, and some parts 
even more times, so careful was Girard that no part 
should be misunderstood, and that no contest after his 
death should break it. Great secrecy was observed in 
respect to his will, so that no one except Girard and his 
attorney knew the nature of its contents. 

The will was dated February i6, 1 830, when Girard was 
eighty years of age, and he lived nearly two years longer, 
devoted to business as he had been in the past. In the 
winter of 1830 Stephen Girard was knocked down and run 
over by a passing vehicle, receiving painful injuries in the 
head, and almost losing the use of his remaining eye. When 
the physician was tenderly dressing the wounds, Girard 
said : *' Go on. Doctor ; I am an old sailor ; I can bear a good 
deal." In July, 1 831, Girard was appointed a trustee for 
the lot whereon the Merchants' Exchange is built, until the 
company could be incorporated. When surprise was ex- 
pressed about his continued interest in business,. he said: 
** When Death comes for me he will find me busy, unless I 
am asleep in bed. If I thought I were going to die to- 
morrow I would plant a tree, nevertheless, to-day." In 
December, 1831, he was seized with influenza and pneu- 
monia, and remained in a stupor until just before his 
sTo. OF PHIL. —21 



322 

death. Then he arose, and putting his hand to his head, 
exclaimed: "How violent is this disorder! How very 
extraordinary it is!" and immediately expired, December 
26, 1 83 1. On the following Friday his remains were 
placed in a vault at the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic 
Cemetery, whence they were removed by the Masonic 
order on September 30, 185 i, to Girard College. 

It is said that after his death his relatives and the pub- 
lic swarmed to his residence, invaded the cellars of his 
house, drank his choicest wines, and entered upon a 
lengthy carouse. Learning of the existence of a will, 
they demanded that it should be read. Mr. Duane ap- 
peared, opened the document, and read the will. When 
they heard that they had received but a few thousand 
dollars, while millions had been given to the public, they 
were wild with excitement. Everything was done to 
break the will that legal ingenuity could devise ; but Girard 
had expressed his ideas in such plain and clear language 
that the will remained practically unbroken. 

When the will was read it was found that Girard was 
the wealthiest man in America. Some of the most im- 
portant legacies were as follows : 

Pennsylvania Hospital, $30,000; Deaf and Dumb Asy- 
lum, $20,000; Orphan Asylum, $10,000; Lancasterian 
schools at Philadelphia, $10,000; fund for fuel to the 
Philadelphia poor, $10,000; Society for the Relief of Sea 
Captains and their Families, $10,000; Freemasons of 
Philadelphia and their poor, $20,000; a free school in 
Passyunk township, $6,000; certain improvements on 
Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, $500,000; for canals in 
Penn.sylvania, $300,000. 



323 

To his surviving brother and to eacli of his eleven nieces 
he gave from $5,000 to $20,000, and to one of his nieces 
who had a very large family he left $60,000. 

To each of his captains who had made two voyages and 
had brought his ship safely into port, $15,000. 

To each of his apprentices, $500. 

To each of his old servants an annuity of $300 to $500. 

After several other bequests, the remainder of his estate, 
worth at the time about six million dollars, was left in trust 
to "the Mayor^ Aldermen, and Citizens of Philadelphia," 
to be devoted mainlv to the erection and maintenance of a 




Girard College. 



college for orphan boys. His will reads : ** I have been for 
a long time impressed with the importance of educating 
the poor, and of placing them by the early cultivation of 



324 

their minds and the development of their moral principles, 
above the many temptations, to which, through poverty and 
ignorance they are exposed ; and I am particularly desirous 
to provide for such a number of poor male white orphan 
children, as can be trained in one institution, a better educa- 
tion, as well as a more comfortable maintenance, than they 
usually receive from the application of the public funds." 

The college was erected by a building committee ap- 
pointed by city councils. The object of Girard was to 
have a substantial building erected, '' avoiding needless 
ornament, and attending chiefly to the strength, conve- 
nience, and neatness of the whole." The college grounds, 
containing forty-one acres, are located at Twentieth Street 
and Girard Avenue, and the main building is one of the 
finest specimens of Greek architecture in the world. 

Many biographers pronounce the lifework of Stephen 
Girard a ** labor of love and philanthropy." But Girard 
did not recognize it as such. Justice was his motto, duty 
was his creed, action was his faith. His advice to all was : 
" Learn to know thy duty, and do it." He believed in 
recompense, but not rewards. He was a strong man, with 
assured faith in his convictions. 

One of the main avenues of the city, a park, and an 
observatory, as well as the college which he founded, bear 
his name. Within the city two statues have been erected 
to his memory, one at the college chapel, erected by his 
grandniece, Ellen E. Girard, and presented in her behalf to 
the city by the Hon. Carroll Brewster, November 19, 1895 ; 
and the other at the west plaza of the City Hall, Broad 
and Market streets, erected by the alumni of Girard Col- 
lege, May 20, 1897, on the fiftieth anniversary of the ad- 



325 

mission of boys into the college. In gazing on this statue, 
we feel the power and significance of the words of 
Thomas B. Reed, the orator on the occasion of the dedi- 
cation : " Surely, if the immortal dead, serene with the 
wisdom of eternity, are not above all joy and pride, he 
must feel a thrill to know that no mariner or merchant 
ever sent forth a venture upon unknown seas, which came 
back with richer cargoes or in statelier ships." 



WOMEN OF PHILADELPHIA. 

FROM the earhest times women have occupied a promi- 
nent place in the history of Philadelphia, and have 
been noted for their charity, patriotism, piety, education, 
and social reforms. The first woman of whom we have 
any information is Armgard Prince, a daughter of the 
Swedish governor. Another was Elizabeth Hard, " a 
worthy, good woman," of "sweet, innocent deportment," 
who first lived in a cave at the foot of Chestnut Street. 
She was energetic and industrious, and "thought it expe- 
dient to help her husband at one end of the saw, and 
to fetch all such water to make mortar of, as they then 
had to build their chimney." She was brave, strong, and 
courageous, and better able to endure the roughness of an 
early settler's life than many of her companions of more 
gentle birth, who were accustomed to English homes of 
luxury. Margaret Preston, an early settler, became a 
well-known Indian interpreter, and wrote many letters 
descriptive of William Penn's treatment of the Indians. 



326 



Another woman of note was Hannah Callowhill Penn, 
second wife of WiUiam Penn. She was gracious and 
pleasant of manner, possessed a keen intellect and resolute 
will, and became a social favorite in the colony. Her 
eldest son, John Penn, called " the American," was born 
during her visit to this country. In i 70 1 , in company with 
Letitia Penn, a daughter of William Penn by his first wife, 
she returned to England. During the last illness of her 

husband she managed his 
large estate, and urged him to 
convey Pennsylvania, with the 
lower counties of Delaware, to 
the King of Great Britain in 
consideration of a certain sum 
of money, for she believed that 
her children would in time lose 
control of the province. At 
his death she became sole ex- 
ecutrix of his estate. When 
Sir William Keith, the deputy 
governor, attempted to secure 
control of the government, she wrote a letter in defense of 
her rights in the province of Pennsylvania, and this letter 
caused the defeat of Keith's projects and the loss to him 
of his office. 

As the city increased in population each sect or class 
became the basis of a select society, which was controlled 
by influential women. Although the Friends were domi- 
nant in Philadelphia at this time, yet the colonial maids 
and matrons were not always the staid, plain Quakeresses 
historians represent them to be. Among the dissenters was 




Hannah Callowhill Penn. 



1^7 

Sarah Eckley, a wealthy Quakeress, who eloped with Colo- 
nel Coxe to the Jersey shore, and was married under the 
light of a pine torch in a Jersey forest. The Society of 
Friends were greatly shocked, and declared that " the 
news of Sarah Eckley's marriage is both sorrowful and 
surprising." 

A noted society leader in colonial Philadelphia was Sarah 
Franklin, daughter of Benjamin Franklin. She was beau- 
tiful, witty, well educated, and " simple in her manners, like 
her respected father." When twenty-three years of age she 
married Richard Bache, an Englishman. During the Revo- 
lution Sarah Bache and other patriotic women formed asso- 
ciations for the relief of American soldiers, and accomplished 
great good. The demure Quakeress Sally Wister was also 
a well-known figure in those days. She was an intimate 
friend of Deborah Norris, and for her wrote an account of 
the British soldiers during their occupancy of Philadelphia. 
Sally Wister lived surrounded by troops, and her diary 
shows that she and the " saucy Debbie Norris," as she 
called her friend, were greatly interested in fine-looking 
soldiers, and she pictures with vivacity a phase of history 
which would have been lost had it not been for her diary. 

Perhaps the most beautiful woman in Philadelphia society 
at the time of the Revolution and later was Anne Willing, 
afterwards Mrs. Bingham, famous on both continents for her 
beauty, wealth, and courtly bearing. She represented Amer- 
ican beauty, grace, and elegance at the court of Louis XVI. 
of France, and while. in London was admired and wel- 
comed in the best society. Another celebrated beauty, 
Deborah McClenahan Stewart, also attracted great atten- 
tion in London, and we read in a lady's diary : " I think. 



328 



from the observance I have made upon those ladies from 
Philadelphia whom I have been acquainted with, that they 
are more easy in their manners, and discover a greater 
desire to render themselves acceptable, than the women of 
Boston, where education appears to be better, and they 
seem to be sensible of their consequence in society. I 
have seen some good specimens of their brilliancy, first in 
Mrs. Bingham, and now in Mrs. Stewart." 

There were brave women in Philadelphia, noted for 

their active pa- 
triotism during 
the Revolution. 
Among these 
was Mary Mor- 
gan, who saddled 
her horse, and 
taking her harp- 
sichord, rode to 
the camp at 
Cambridge with 
her husband, Dr. 
John Morgan, 
physician in chief 
to the army. It 
was Hannah Is- 
rael who, when 
she saw the 
British about to 
drive her hus- 
band's cattle out 

Anne Willing Bingham. of the meadow, 




329 

ran and drove the animals off while the bullets fell thick 
and fast about her. No less a heroine was Mary Red- 
mond, a Philadelphia maiden, whom the British officers 
named " the little black-eyed rebel." She taught a boy 
who carried provisions into the market to carry letters 
between American soldiers and their wives and sweet- 
hearts in Philadelphia. The letters were sewed in the 
back of the boy's jacket, and when Mary Redmond had 
reason to believe that he was suspected, she sought him, 
and pretending to romp with him, stole his jacket, and thus 
saved the precious letters from discovery by the enemy. 

Among the patriotic women of Philadelphia none stood 
higher in love of country than Esther Reed, wife of Joseph 
Reed, who was secretary to General Washington, and later 
president of the State of Pennsylvania. She was born and 
educated in England, but her sympathies were with the 
American cause, and she was confident of its success. 
When the British soldiers occupied Philadelphia she was 
forced to flee with her family to New Jersey, where she 
remained, in great danger of her life. While there her 
health broke down, and one of her children died of small- 
pox. On her return to Philadelphia she was active in 
supplying clothing for the soldiers, and was instrumental 
in forming the Ladies' Association, an organization which 
contributed $300,634 to the relief of the soldiers. Esther 
Reed died September, 1780, and was buried in the Arch 
Street Presbyterian burying ground, where her monument 
may be seen. The good work which she so nobly began 
was carried on by other patriotic women of Philadelphia. 

Colonial society was marked by sects and classes ; but 
on the eve of the Revolution these barriers were broken 



330 

down, and two political parties sprang into existence, the 
tory and the patriot, each class having its representative 
women. Among the most prominent of these women 
were Margaret or " Peggy " Chew, of Mischianza fame, 
and her sister Harriet. These women subsequently be- 
came great friends of General Washington, and it is said 
that Harriet accompanied him when he sat to Gilbert Stuart 
for his portrait, and the general was accustomed to say 
that the agreeable expression on his face was due to her 
interesting conversation. 

Contemporary with the Chew sisters was Margaret or 
*' Peggy " Shippen, the youngest daughter of Edward 
Shippen. She was the *' finest woman in society," and 
famous for beauty and grace. She was the belle of 
the Mischianza, and a standing toast with the British 
officers. Subsequently she became the wife of Benedict 
Arnold. 

Another prominent woman in society at this time was 
Rebecca Franks, the daughter of David Franks, and an 
ardent loyalist. She was beautiful, witty, and wealthy, a 
keen observer, and very caustic in her conversation. After 
an introduction into New York society she wrote : '' I will do 
our ladies — that is, the Philadelphians — the justice to say 
that they have more clearness in the turn of an eye than 
those of New York have in their whole composition." 
Rebecca Franks derived much pleasure at the expense of 
the British soldiers, who, she said, imagined that" a red 
coat and smart epaulet is sufficient to secure a female 
heart." Nevertheless, she married Sir Henry Johnson of 
the British army. After years had passed and Rebecca 
Johnson had become a bright-eyed old lady, she met 



331 

General Winfield Scott, who was traveling in England in^ 
1816, and turning to him in astonishment, she said, "Is 
this the young rebel?" and then added, "Yes, it is he. 
And so you have taken the liberty to beat his Majesty's 
troops? " Then her hand crept into his, and she said in a 
trembling voice : " I have gloried in my rebel countrymen ; 
would to God I, too, had been a patriot! " But turning 
to her husband, she said : " No, I do not. I have never 
regretted my marriage. No woman was ever blessed with 
a kinder or better husband. But I ought to have been a 
patriot before marriage." 

There were many women in Philadelphia who scorned 
the actions of their tory sisters. Among these were the 
Misses Allen, the eldest being " one of the most splendid 
beauties the city ever produced." Another was Sally 
McKean, the beautiful daughter of Thomas McKean, and 
subsequently the wife of Marquis D'Yrujo, whose son, 
born in Philadelphia, became the Duke of Sotomayer 
and prime minister of Spain. Another woman of note 
was Dolly Payne, who subsequently became Mrs. James 
Madison. As the wife of the President of the United 
States she aided in making his administration a brilliant 
social success, and displayed great courage and wisdom 
in the most trying political complications. 

The women of Philadelphia have been interested in lit- 
erature also, and we find in history tlie name of Deborah 
Logan, the first woman historian in Pennsylvania. She 
was a Quakeress, the daughter of Charles Norris, and in 
time became Mrs. George Logan, thus uniting two noble 
families. She was intelligent, benevolent, and pious, pos- 
sessing a cheerful disposition, gracious manner, and a benign 



332 

countenance. She was acquainted with eminent men, and 
often spoke with pride of the visits of George Washington to 
her home at Stenton. She was famiHar with the details 
of colonial history, and collected and preserved many valu- 
able papers. Among these was the correspondence be- 
tween James Logan and William Penn, and these, with some 
memoirs written by herself, and a collection of her poems 
and prose writings, are preserved in the Philadelphia 
Library and in the library of the Pennsylvania Historical 
Society, 

Another of the literary women of Philadelphia was Eliza- 
beth Ferguson, the poetess. She is said to have been a 
" lady of fine talents, refined delicacy, exquisite sensibility, 
and romantic generosity." When but a schoolgirl she 
translated '' Telemachus " into English verse. Dr. Rush 
said: ** Nothing that came from her pen was common." 
Her writings showed " strong marks of genius, taste, and 
knowledge." She is also said to have transmitted the fa- 
mous letter from the Rev. Jacob Duche to General Washing- 
ton, ad\'ising him to disband or surrender his army to the 
king. Another woman famous in literature was Annis 
Lee Wister, the translator of German classics into English, 
and her works are in demand even at the present day. 
Hannah Griffiths was a woman " of excellent abilities, and 
distinguished for the ease and accuracy with which she 
expressed herself both in conversation and with her pen." 
Her writings *' were mainly devotional, or else in an elegiac 
strain on the death of her friends." Among her memo- 
rable poems was a satire on the Mischianza. The most 
popular writers of Philadelphia have been Eliza Leslie, 
" Grace Greenwood " (pseudonym of Sarah Jane Lippincott), 



333 




and Annie E. McDowell, the latter being the editor of the 

" Woman's Advocate," the first paper in Philadelphia 

printed and edited by a woman. 

Many other Philadelphia women 

have taken an active part in the 

development of literature in this 

city. 

The War of the Revolution 
brought great changes, and 
women of strong intellect be- 
came the leaders of Philadelphia 
society. A noted woman of 
this time said: "You know, 

however, that here alone can 

, - , 1 • 11 1 Martha Washington. 

be lound a truly mtellectual 

and refined society, such as one naturally expects 
in the capital of a great country." The first social 
events of importance after the Revolution were Martha 
Washington's levees, and hither came noted women from 
every State in the Union. She gathered in her republi- 
can court those whose praises for culture, beauty, wit, 
and patriotism have become a matter of history. Of 
Martha Washington's first levee in Philadelphia, Sally 
McKean wrote: "You never could have seen such a 
drawing-room; it was brilliant beyond anything you can 
imagine, and though there was a great deal of extrava- 
gance, there was so much of Philadelphia taste in every- 
thing that it must have been confessed the most delightful 
occasion of the kind ever known in this country." 

Following this page of history we note a remarkable 
woman, Phoebe Ann Rush. She was of noble family, 



334 



refined, beautiful, and wealthy. She was kindly disposed, 
and could not understand why refined and intellectual 

people, even if they 




were not wealthy, 
should not associate 
with one another. She 



deliglited 



to gather 



Phcsbe Ann Rush. 



about her men and 
women of the time, with- 
out regard totheirwealth 
or social position, and 
invited every one having 
a claim to fame, fortune, 
or merit to attend her 
brilliant assemblies. In 
this way she surrounded 
herself with the com- 
pany of the most dis- 
tinguished men and women of the day. Society looked on 
with amazement, but she was not deterred in her task of 
placing all persons of merit on a social equality and banish- 
ing those distinctions which exist only in the minds of the 
narrow and bigoted. While it may be said that she did not 
succeed in establishing a social order based on culture and 
refinement alone, yet she deserves the credit of being the 
first woman in Philadelphia to apply to society the prin- 
ciple that " all persons are created free and equal." 

Philadelphia women have been proverbial for their 
charity. Among these was Rebecca Gratz, born in Phila- 
delphia, March 4, 1781. Her father, Michael Gratz, was 
a prominent merchant and an active member of the Con- 



335 



gregation Mickveh Israel. Her mother was Miriam Simon, 
daughter of Joseph Simon, an early settler in Lancaster 
County, Pennsylvania. 
Rebecca Gratz received 
a liberal education, and 
she soon became con- 
spicuous among her 
people for her learning, 
beauty, social accom- 
plishments, and for her 
interest in religious, ed- 
ucational, and charitable 
enterprises. 

Although the greater 
part of her time and en- 
ergy was devoted to the 
welfare of her own peo- 
ple, yet she labored with zeal for the welfare of the poor 
and afflicted wherever she found them. She became 
secretary of the Female Association for the Relief of 
Women and Children in Reduced Circumstances in 
1 80 1, and held that position for many years. In 181 5 
her name appears among the founders of the Philadelphia 
Orphan Asylum, and four years later she became its 
secretary, which office she held for forty years. At her 
death the board of managers declared that " to her much 
of its prosperity is due, while to her dignity, grace, and 
noble personal qualities the managers have yielded the 
tribute of their warm admiration and strong regard." 

Rebecca Gratz gave the first impulse toward the estab- 
lishment of the Jewish Foster Home at Germantown in 




Rebecca Gratz. 



336 

1 85 5- She was one of the founders of the Female Hebrew 
Benevolent Society, instituted 1820, and on February 4, 
1838, she resolved, with a number of Jewish women, to 
institute a Sunday school under the supervision of that 
society. In this movement Rebecca Gratz was the 
leading and organizing spirit. Women teachers were 
appointed from among the congregation of Mickveh 
Israel to carry the project forward. So anxious was 
she to promote the language and religion of her people 
that she was instrumental in compiling a text-book or 
catechism for the instruction of Jewish children. The 
school opened March 4, 1838, on Fourth Street, with the 
names of fifty children on the roll. This was the first 
Hebrew Sunday school in the United States, and Rebecca 
Gratz was its first superintendent and directress, remaining 
in office until 1864, when she resigned, in her eighty-fourth 
year. Devout and punctual in attendance at the syna- 
gogue, and deeply attached to the religion of her fathers, 
she held that religious education should be above all other 
instruction, and that the highest duty was to teach to 
youth the tenets of religion. Although she was a bright 
example to her people, and was strict in the observance of 
the Jewish law, she broadened by liberal charities, and 
deepened by devotion, the spirit of its interpretation. The 
city owes a debt of gratitude to Rebecca Gratz for founding 
and maintaining by her benevolence and influence the 
charitable and educational institutions with which she was 
connected. 

The usual donation day of Hebrew charity to the Jew- 
ish Foster Home occurs annually on Thanksgiving day. 
On that occasion in 1898 a portrait in oil of Rebecca 



337 

Gratz, which had been secured by personal subscription 
from members of the board of managers and Ladies' Asso- 
ciate Board, was unveiled with imposing ceremonies and 
formally accepted. 

Rebecca Gratz was modest, dignified, and devout, and 
had a large and select circle of friends and admirers 
among all classes and creeds. She was beautiful and 
intelligent, and a charming conversationalist. It is said 
that Henry Clay paid her marked attention ; but although 
loved by a worthy man, she put from her all thoughts 
of marriage, and unselfishly devoted her time and atten- 
tion to benevolent purposes. Her life was so exem- 
plary tliat Washington Irving, who was an intimate friend 
of the family, drew a pen picture of her for Sir Walter 
Scott, describing her stately and distinguished bearing, her 
devotion to the faith of her fathers through the most try- 
ing ordeals, her remarkable beauty, her innate modesty, 
and her zealous philanthropy ; and from this illustration 
Sir Walter Scott drew his ideal daughter of Israel, Re- 
becca, in his famous novel, '' Ranhoe." 

Rebecca Gratz died in Philadelphia, August 27, 1869, in 
her eighty-ninth year, and was buried in the Portuguese 
Jewish Cemetery, on Spruce Street. If a righteous and 
charitable life is a blessing, then the efforts of Rebecca 
Gratz for the good of the city should consecrate her 
memory as the foremost female Jewish philanthropist of 
Philadelphia, and her enduring monument should be the 
gratitude of her people. 

Another woman justly celebrated for her charity and 
religious and educational work was Julia Alexia Fournier, 
better known as Mother St. John. She was born in 

STO. OF PHIL.— 22 



338 

France in 1814, and quite early in life resolved to devote 
her time and talent to church work. She became a mem- 
ber of the Sisters of St. Joseph in France, and was sent by 
her superiors to the United States to do missionary work. 
In 1847 she came with one companion to Philadelphia. 
The St. John's Orphan Asylum, then situated on Chestnut 
Street, below Thirteenth Street, had come under the care 
of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and Mother St. John was ap- 
pointed superior. By 1851 she had established several 
branches of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the city and 
State. 

Each succeeding year of her life was marked by devotion 
and untiring zeal in the cause of religion, education, char- 
ity, and benevolence. In 1858 she established the Mount 
St. Joseph's Academy at Chestnut Hill, where young 
women were not only *' taught the art of teaching, but 
inspired with a spirit which should animate and sanctify 
their work." She also accomplished a great •amount of 
literary w^ork, and translated many important French 
classics into the English language. Her great mental 
endowments, executive ability, and noble character are 
shown by her labors in behalf of organized charities, 
and by the rapid extension of that noted society, the 
Sisters of St. Joseph, in and near Philadelphia. 

Among the women prominent in charitable work was 
Elizabeth E. Hutter. She was one of the founders of 
the Northern Home for Friendless Children, the object of 
which was to befriend *' destitute and neglected children, 
ignorant and forsaken little boys and girls under tw^elve 
years of age." She w^as also one of the founders of the 
Newsboys' Aid Association, and in 1864 was at the head 



339 

of the Sanitary Fair, and raised for the relief of the sick 
and wounded soldiers two hundred forty-seven thousand 
five hundred dollars. She was instrumental in found- 
ing the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphan Institute, and later 
was appointed inspector and examiner of the State Depart- 
ment of Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphan Schools. As the 
head of the executive committee having charge of the 
State Educational Department of Pennsylvania at the Cen- 
tennial Exposition, she received a gold medal as a token 
of her valuable services ; and in recognition of her labors 
in the Northern Home, an elegant silver service was pre- 
sented to her on the twenty-fifth anniversary of her presi- 
dency of that institution. 

The women of Philadelphia assumed an important part 
in the antislavery movement, and by word, deed, and pen 
hastened the cause of emancipation. Of these Abigail 
Goodwin lived to see slavery abolished. *' She worked for 
the slaves as a mother works for her children. . . . She 
wrote for every antislavery journal, begged in every direc- 
tion for money, implored friends to take stock in the under- 
ground railroad, and to the last day of her life burned with 
an actual passion of good will, and, it must be added, an 
equal inability to conceive that a slaveholder might also 
have some conception of justice and humanity." Her belief 
was shared by Esther Moore, another woman active from 
youth in the cause of emancipation. Although nearly 
eighty years of age when the Fugitive Slave Bill was 
passed, she worked against that infamous law with all the 
eagerness of youth. She gave to every fugitive slave 
who passed through the city one gold dollar to defray 
expenses at the end of the journey. Almost her last 



340 

words were : " Write to Oliver Johnson and tell him I die 
firm in the faith. Mind the slave." 

Another prominent person in this movement was Caro- 
line Earle White, who early in life showed her hatred for 
slavery. W^hen the Women's Branch of the Freedman's 
Society was organized she became its secretary. She was 
instrumental in founding the Philadelphia Society for the 
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and was chosen president 
of the women's department. When the Women's Centen- 
nial Committee was called together, Caroline Earle White 
was one of the thirteen women selected to represent 
the thirteen original States, and was appointed its trea- 
surer. She also founded the Society for the Prevention 
of Cruelty to Children and the American Antivivisection 
Society. Perhaps no woman in Philadelphia has taken a 
more active part in protective and relief organizations, and 
in the establishment of those humane institutions which are 
accomplishing so much good in our city to-day. 

Among Philadelphia's eminent women Lucretia Mott 
appears as the central figure of a notable group of the 
nineteenth century. She was an eminent speaker, educa- 
tor, philanthropist, and reformer. She lectured on the 
abolition of slavery, woman's rights, temperance, antisab- 
bath laws, Indian wrongs, universal peace, and prison re- 
forms, and was one of the founders of the Free Religious 
Association in America. 

Lucretia Mott's maiden name was Coffin. She was 
born of Quaker parentage on the island of Nantucket, 
January 3, 1793. Her mother was the fifth generation 
from Peter Folger, *' that learned and godly Englishman," 
who pleaded for religious toleration as early as J 676, and 



341 



who was an ancestor of Benjamin Franklin. In early life 
Lucretia attended a private school, but her father, fearing 
that she might become proud, sent her to a public school 
in Boston. At the age of thirteen she was sent to a Friends' 
School in New York, where she soon became an assistant 
teacher, at a lower salary than was paid a male instructor. 
She felt that this unequal payment for the same service 

was unjust, and she de- 

cided thereafter to claim 
for herself and her sis- 
ters equal rights. 

At the age of eigh- 
teen Lucretia Coffin was 
married to James Mott, 
in the Pine Street 
Friends' Meetinghouse, 
Philadelphia. For a 
time they lived with her 
father, her husband as- 
sisting him in his busi- 
ness. Upon Captain 
Coffin's death, the busi- 
ness ceased, and Mr. 
Mott, out of employ- 
ment, grew despondent. Then this brave little woman 
said : " My cousin and I will open school ; thee must not 
get discouraged, James." The school proved successful, 
and Mr. Mott also found employment. Their happiness 
was marred, however, by the death of an only son. This 
was a painful shock to Lucretia Mott. She had loved her 
son as earth's sweetest treasure. Kind and sympathizing 




Lucretia Mott. 



342 

friends were about her with their playing and prattling 
children, but the sensation of loss, sorrow, and solitude 
rested heavily upon her and chastened her. She saw that 
in every home there was mourning, that Jier sorrow was 
common to the whole human race, and one day she arose 
in meeting and prayed for divine aid and guidance. 

She now became a close student of the Bible, and began 
also to extend her knowledge by reading thoughtfully the 
best works on theology, philosophy, and science. She 
was distressed at the sight of slaves being driven through 
the streets chained together to be sold to different masters, 
husband, wife, and children forever separated. With a 
deepening sense of the wrong, she bore testimony against 
the iniquity of the slave traffic, declaring that man had no 
property in man, that the negro was a human being, and 
God was the Father of all. Guided by the " still, small 
voice," possessed of the resolute will that characterized 
her ancestors, and firm in the faith of the inherent rights 
of the human family, she bravely stood up in defense of the 
poor, ignorant, and despised African slave. Slaveholders 
came to hear this ** impertinent Quakeress," and were 
moved by her arguments and her sincerity. They saw 
that the theme burned upon the altar of her soul. Although 
many slaveholders denounced her doctrines, yet they felt 
that she erred only in her zeal ; for her tears showed ten- 
derness for the slave, not bitterness against the master. 

Believing that in organization there was greater power 
than in individual efifort, Lucretia Mott was foremost of 
that noble band who met in convention in the Adelphi 
building, Philadelphia, to found the American Antislavery 
Society, of which she was the first woman speaker. The 



343 

presence of women and their speaking at these meetings 
incensed the mob, and deeming it best to withdraw from 
the convention, these brave women finally formed an aux- 
iliary branch of the society, known as the Female Anti- 
slavery Society, with Lucretia Mott as president, and Mary 
Grew as secretary. They knew so little about governing 
assemblies that they called upon James McCrummel, a 
colored man, to aid them. It was derisively asked, " What 
can those four women do when for one hundred fifty 
years the most powerful thinkers and speakers have failed ? " 
But with Lucretia Mott there was no such word as fail, and 
from her enthusiasm her sisters gathered strength and 
inspiration. 

Many times the lives of Lucretia Mott and her brave 
sisters were in danger from an angry mob. One day 
after she had addressed the convention and gone home, 
a mob resolved to kill her. She received the message as 
only a martyr to a great principle can. She sent her chil- 
dren away and then sat down to await her fate. Among 
the rioters there was one who did not want to see her 
injured. Proposing to lead the crowd, he neared the 
house of Lucretia Mott at Ninth Street, between Race 
and Vine streets ; but instead of going toward the house, he 
crossed Ninth Street and went on up Race Street to another 
house, on which they wreaked their vengeance. On an- 
other occasion the mob broke up the convention and burned 
the hall, which had been consecrated to " Liberty and the 
Rights of Man." But these women faltered not, and met 
the next day, at the suggestion of Lucretia Mott, in a 
schoolhouse, and here they renewed their pledges of fidel- 
ity to the cause of liberty. When she was lecturing in 



344 

New York a mob broke up the meeting, and as Lucretia 
Mott walked out of the hall she laid her hand on one of 
the roughest of the crowd, and asked him to see her to a 
place of safety. This he did, not knowing who she was. 
He afterwards said of her that she was a very good and 
sensible woman. 




Lucretia Mott's House. 

In 1840 Lucretia Mott went to the World's Convention 
at London to debate upon the slavery question, but that 
august body would not permit a woman to take part. 
Nevertheless, they recognized in this " worthy woman of 
Philadelphia " " rare intellectual talent and excellent judg- 
ment," and they saw that, although modest, she was forward 
in every good cause, and firm upon all questions pertaining 
to the rights of humanity. In consequence she was enter- 



345 

tained by prominent persons, Christian and literary socie- 
ties, and spoke to delighted audiences. On her return to 
America she presented her views before the legislatures 
of New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. It is said 
that she exerted such a powerful influence in Philadelphia 
that a famous lawyer felt it necessary to request her to leave 
the court room while he was urging the sending of a slave 
back to his master. Years after, this lawyer changed his 
political opinions, and when asked why he dared do so, 
he replied : ** Do you think there is anything I dare 
not do after facing Lucretia Mott in that court room?" 
She visited President Tyler, w4io talked with her freely 
upon the slavery question, and while traveling in the 
South, especially in Kentucky, she held vast audiences, 
many of them slaveholders, spellbound by the simplicity 
and sincerity of her arguments. Thus the cause of eman- 
cipation grew, aided by these energetic women of Phila- 
delphia, until it produced a war, which ended only with 
the Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, and 
the overthrow of the institution of slavery. 

When the Civil War was over and the battle for a great 
principle was won, Lucretia Mott attended the celebration 
of the old Pennsylvania Abolition Society. She was 
greeted by a vast audience, who, when she appeared on 
the platform, arose and with one voice saluted her with 
round after round of applause. In her modest manner 
she said she thought herself a '' very much overrated 
woman," and added, " It is very humiliating." 

Lucretia Mott advanced extreme views upon the sub- 
ject of woman's rights in relation to property, marriage, 
society, and education. It was while attending the 



346 

World's Convention at London in 1840 that she felt more 
keenly than ever the injustice done to womankind. As 
she and Elizabeth Cady Stanton walked out of the con- 
vention they agreed to call a woman's rights meeting 
upon their return to the United States. While on a visit 
to Auburn, New York, Lucretia Mott again met Elizabeth 
Cady Stanton, and they called a convention at Seneca 
Falls, New York, under the name of the Woman's Rights 
Association, the object being*" to discuss the social, civil, 
and religious condition and rights of women." Of this 
organization James Mott was chairman, Mary McClintock 
secretary, and Lucretia Mott chief speaker. She told 
of woman's wrongs, and hoped that the time w^ould come 
when the walks of life would be open to all alike, and when 
women might speak and act by natural right, and not by 
sufferance. The question was opened for public discus- 
sion, and she answered all objections with wit, tact, and 
delicacy. The press and the pulpit were unsparing in their 
denunciation of her principles, and the public derided the 
convention as a body of fanatics, whose desire it was to 
" take woman out of her sphere, and thus unsex the 
race." The women of Philadelphia and the United States 
will ever owe a debt of gratitude to Lucretia Mott and 
EHzabeth Cady Stanton for their advocacy of equal rights. 
Lucretia Mott favored an antisabbath association, de- 
claring that all days and all times should be devoted to 
that goodness which is required of us — "'' to do justly, love 
mercy, and walk humbly." She was a member of the 
Pennsylvania Peace Society, and acted as its president for 
ten years. In this capacity she advocated that a peace 
congress be appointed by the civilized nations to adjust 



347 

national disputes. She was devoted to the cause of our 
free pubhc school system and of universal education, de- 
claring ignorance to be a crime. She held that in educa- 
tion and suffrage there should be no distinction of race, 
sex, creed, or color, and said that " the mingling with all 
classes, without distinction, when I went to public school, 
gave me a feeling of sympathy for the patient and strug- 
gling poor which but for this experience I might never 
have known." She bore testimony against intemperance, 
and to an inebriate farmer she once said : '* I know thy 
human nature is not changed in a moment, but thee must 
bridle, curb, and handle it for years with that care and 
firmness required to break a colt." She summed up mar- 
ital relations as follows : ** In the true marriage relations 
the independence of the husband and wife are equal, their 
dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal." 

On the 30th of May, 1867, Lucretia Mott, although 
over seventy years of age, attended a convention in 
Boston to " consider the conditions, wants, and prospects 
of free religion in America." Next to the antislavery 
struggle no cause seemed to her more important than 
liberty of conscience and its expression, and on this 
memorable occasion she reviewed the rapid growth of 
religious freedom and indorsed the new movement. With 
formulas she had no patience ; she thought theology 
the invention of men, selfish, sectarian, and gloomy. It 
degraded the natural and fettered the spiritual. It pre- 
vented criticism, checked inquiry, and therefore proscribed 
intellectual development. But the science of morals had 
for her a peculiar charm. To do good, to ascertain the 
right by reason, and then to do it with decision and energy, 



348 

was her creed, and her faith was based on the simple 
teachings of Jesus. 

On January 26, 1868, her husband, James Mott, died, 
and on this occasion Lucretia Mott said : " I do not mourn, 
but rather remember my blessings and the blessing of his 
long life with me." 

After a most active life in the service of humanity, 
Lucretia Mott died November 11, 1880. Thousands at- 
tended her funeral, and as that vast throng stood about the 
grave in Fairhill Cemetery some one impulsively asked : 
"Will no one say anything?" The reply was: "Who 
can speak? The preacher is dead." 



3>#4C 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 

FAIRMOUNT PARK is the largest city park in the 
United States, and has an area of 3,353.09 acres. 
It is the second largest city park in the world, and is ex- 
ceeded in extent only by the Prater in Vienna, Austria, 
which contains 4,270 acres. 

When William Penn arrived in his new city, Philadel- 
phia, he rode out to the western limits and found a high 
hill at the terminus of what is now known as Callowhill 
Street. The land was so beautifully situated, possessed 
such a commanding view of the river, and was encircled 
by such grand forest trees, that he named it " Fair Mount." 
He thought it a proper place for " a gentleman's country 
seat," and said that he had his " eye upon it " for a build- 
ing site. Richard Castleman, a gentleman of culture and 



349 

a writer of Philadelphia history, wrote as early as 1710: 
" Fare Mount is a charming spot, shaded with trees, on the 
river Schuylkill." In July, 1770, Tench Francis sold this 
land to Robert Morris, who in the following year built a 
house upon it, improved the grounds, and named it '* The 
Hills." This property consisted of two separate hills, one 
where the Fairmount reservoir now stands, called Quarry 
Hill, and one where the observatory now stands, called 
Lemon Hill and Sedgley. After Robert Morris failed, 
a part of this estate, consisting of forty-five acres, now 
known as Lemon Plill, became the property of Henry 
Pratt, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant, who remodeled 
and adorned it, and in 1831 we read that Pratt's gardens 
were *' the wonder and delight of the citizens of Philadel- 
phia." 

As early as December 18, 181 1, two prominent Phila- 
delphians suggested that the city purchase Quarry Hill, 
and in the following year five acres of this land were 
secured for *' a city waterworks and for park purposes." 
This was the beginning of Fairmount Park. In 1828 an 
additional purchase of nineteen acres was made. On 
July 24, 1844, Lemon Hill, consisting of forty-five acres, 
was purchased of the trustees of the United States Bank 
by the city authorities, and by them leased as a summer 
garden until September 15, 1855, when it was dedicated 
by the city to public use as a park. In 1852 Solitude 
was bought of Granville John Penn. In 1857 a tract 
of thirty-four acres adjacent to Lemon Hill, and known 
as Sedgley, was purchased by a few public-spirited citi- 
zens, and incorporated in the park. In 1866 four persons, 
hearing that the property now known as Lansdowne, con- 



350 

taining one hundred forty acres, was for sale, purchased it 
and offered it to the city for the cost price, and the offer 
was accepted. 

The following year, 1867, a park commission of ten 
persons was appointed by direction of the city authorities. 
Their duty was to purchase and improve the park grounds, 




Washington Monument. 

lay out walks and drives, protect historic mansions and 
ancient forest trees, erect statuary, etc. By an ordinance 
of city councils, 1867, the valley of the Wissahickon was 
appropriated to park purposes, with the intention of 
preserving the purity of the city water supply. The fol- 
lowing year, 1868, George's Hill, containing eighty-three 
acres, was presented to the city by Jesse and Rebecca 



351 

George. Gradually other lands on each side of the Schuyl- 
kill River and Wissahickon Creek were acquired and in- 
corporated in the park. The last purchase of land for park 
purposes increased the area of Fairmount Park to 3,353.09 
acres. 

Fairmount Park is divided by the park commissioners 
into four parts — Old Park, East Park, West Park, and 
Wissahickon Park. The Schuylkill River divides the East 
Park from the West Park, while the Wissahickon Park lies 
on both sides of the Wissahickon Creek, a tributary of the 
Schuylkill. 

Old Park, as its name indicates, was the first land pur- 
chased by the city of Philadelphia to be used for park 
purposes. As the visitor enters this part of Fairmount 
Park at Green Street, where a magnificent monument to 
General Washington has been erected by the Society of 
the Cincinnati, he passes over a roadway lined with stately 
trees that have stood here for more than a century. Far- 
ther on is a heroic statue of Abraham Lincoln, which was 
erected through the influence of Anna Dickinson, at one 
time a school-teacher of Philadelphia, and a distinguished 
lecturer. On one occasion she delivered a lecture on 
Abraham Lincoln, the proceeds of which, one thousand 
dollars, she devoted toward erecting this monument. Near 
the Lincoln monument is one of the four celebrated min- 
eral springs of Fairmount Park. William Penn knew of 
this spring, for he said : " There are mineral waters, which 
operate like Barnet and North Hall, that are not two miles 
from Philadelphia." Along the river drive, just opposite 
the statue of Lincoln, is a row of cottages erected by the 
Schuylkill Navy, and near by, under a rustic canopy, is 



352 



a sandstone group with Tarn o' Shanter as the central 
figure. 

As the visitor passes up the road to the right he comes 
to the fine old Lemon Hill maiision in which Robert Morris 

resided. When 
the British sol- 
diers entered the 
city, Morris, fear- 
ing for the safe- 
ty of his family, 
had all his fur- 
niture packed, 
and his horses 
and carriages 
ready to leave 
at a minute's 
notice. Here he 
entertained the 
chief men of this 
and foreign na- 
tions during the 
period of the 
Revolution. Al- 
most every day in the summer of 1787 Washington rode 
out to The Hills, dined and drank tea with the Morris fam- 
ily, and the tree still stands under which Washington and 
Lafayette in company with the great financier passed their 
leisure hours. 

During the summer season Lemon Hill is a favorite 
playground for children, and concerts are given there for 
the entertainment of the public. A short distance from the 




Lincoln Monument. 



353 

mansion is the statue of Morton McMichael, at one time a 
prominent citizen of Philadelphia, and just beyond is 
" General Grant's Cabin," used in the Civil War as his 
headquarters at City Point, Virginia. Near here is a guard- 
house, formerly the stables of the Sedgley mansion. The 




The Lemon Hill Mansion. 

Sedgley property was owned successively by William Cram- 
mond, Samuel Mifflin, and James Cowles Fisher, all prom- 
inent Philadelphians. Just north of this building is the 
statue of Baron von Humboldt, the German scientist ; and 
at the intersection of a driveway with Girard Avenue is a 
statue of Joan of Arc. This completes the tour of Old 
Park. 

Crossing Girard Avenue, we enter East Park, with its 
pleasant drives, famous river road, and historic man- 

STO. OF PHIL. —23 



354 



sions. The river road passes by the Schuylkill waterworks, 
through the tunnel, by the Grant monument, north- 
west under the Columbia Bridge, and on past Randolph 
by the foot of Laurel Hill to the Wissahickon. The 

upper drive leads 
out Thirty-third 
Street to Oxford 
Street. Nature 
and art have 
united in perfect- 
ing and adorning 
this part of the 
park. Here is 
Fountain Green, 
once the home of 
John Mifflin, one 
of the first set- 
tlers in Pennsyl- 
vania, who set- 
tled here in 
1680; and to 
this land Penn 
made him a deed 
in 1684. For 
many years this property remained in the possession of 
the Mifflin family as a summer residence. On this tract 
is the largest and coolest spring in the entire park, and the 
beautiful shade trees make it a popular summer retreat. 
Upon the hill just beyond the spring Richard and Sarah 
Smith erected, in 1898, a large and handsome memorial 
building as a children's playhouse. 




Grant Monument. 



355 

South of this tract, across the ravine, is '' The CHfFs," 
built by Charles Henry Fisher in 1745, while north of this 
tract, in the days of Penn, was the Orion property, pur- 
chased from the Indians and settled upon by William 
Orion, a "quarreling blacksmith," who claimed all the 
adjacent tracts now known as Mount Pleasant, Rockland, 
Ormiston, Edgely, and Woodford. 

North of Fountain Green is one of the most notable 
estates and mansions in East Park, known as Mount Pleas- 
ant, or Washington's Retreat. The mansion is on the 
brow of a hill near the railroad, and overlooks the river, 
to which there was at one time an underground passage. 
Captain John MacPherson, a privateer merchant and 
mariner of Philadelphia, and the publisher of one of the 
first Philadelphia directories, purchased this tract, and in 
1761-62 built " Clunie," or " Clunice," the present Mount 
Pleasant mansion. John Adams, dining here in 1774, 
said: " It is the most elegant seat in Pennsylvania." In 
1777 Captain MacPherson leased the property to the 
Spanish minister, Don Juan Mirialles. When Benedict 
Arnold married " Peggy " Shippen, the beautiful Phila- 
delphia belle, he purchased Mount Pleasant, subject to the 
Spanish minister's lease, and paid for it eighteen thousand 
pounds, or at least promised to do so. He intended it as 
a wedding present to his wife, and reserved only a life 
interest in the property. Within a year Arnold turned 
traitor. Mount Pleasant was confiscated, sold, and con- 
veyed, October 6, 1781, to Colonel Richard Hampton by 
Joseph Reed, president of the supreme executive council 
of Pennsylvania. It was about this time that the " Amer- 
ican god of war," as Baron de Steuben was called, obtained 



356 

a lease of the premises from 1780 to 1782. In 1783 
Colonel Hampton sold the property to Blair McClenahan, 
a wealthy Philadelphian, who had in i 780 subscribed ten 
thousand dollars to feed the starving army of the Revo- 
lution. One year later, 1784, it was sold to Chief Justice 
Edward Shippen, father of ** Peggy " Shippen. Judge 
Shippen sold it, February 10, 1792, to General Jonathan 
Williams, a member of Congress and the first superinten- 
dent of West Point Military Academy, who resided here 
until his death. In 181 5 the property passed to his son, 
Henry J. Williams, an eminent lawyer of Philadelphia, who 
lived here many. years. In 1868 the city assumed control 
of the property. 

About a square beyond is Rockland, which probably 
derives its name from the character of its shore. This 
land was owned by John Lawrence, a prominent city 
official, from 1756 to 1765, and was then sold to Captain 
John MacPherson, and later to George Thompson, a mer- 
chant of Philadelphia, who built here, in the year 18 10, a 
stone mansion of colonial type. On this property is a 
beautiful glen, cool and inviting on the warmest summer 
days. 

A little farther to the north is Ormiston, a famous man- 
sion, at one time the property of Joseph Galloway, a noted 
tory. At the close of the Revolution Ormiston was con- 
fiscated and sold to the trustees of the University of Penn- 
sylvania, who transferred it to Joseph Reed, president of 
the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania. On 
April 26, 1793, his executors sold it to Edward Burd, 
prothonotary of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and 
son-in-law of Chief Justice Shippen, who erected on the 



357 

site a new house and called it Ormiston. For many years 
this property was retained in the Burd family by Edward 
Shippen Burd, whose wife founded the Burd Orphan 
Asylum, Philadelphia. 

From Ormiston the road makes a detour, and on the 
high river bank is Randolph, formerly known as Edgely. 
It is situated one hundred feet above the river, is encircled 
by two ravines, and commands a fine view of West Park 
and Schuylkill River. This property was owned by Philip 
Syng Physick, an eminent Philadelphia physician, from 
1828 to 1836. On the east edge of this tract, opposite 
Thirty-third Street, is the Arnest mansion, now occupied 
by the chief of the park guard. 

Beyond, at the York Street entrance to the park, isWood- 
ford, or the Coleman mansion, one of the most ancient 
houses in Fairmount Park, William Coleman was a promi- 
nent Philadelphia merchant, an original member of the 
Junto Club, a member of city councils and judge of the 
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. A casting in the chim- 
ney, with the family coat of arms and date thereon, indi- 
cates that the house was built by him in 1742. The owner 
was a great friend of Benjamin Franklin, who said of him : 
" He had the coolest, clearest head, the best heart, and 
the exactest morals of almost any man I have ever met 
with." After his death in 1769 or 17 70 it became the 
home of the Franks family. The daughters were noted 
for their wit and beauty, and the son for his patriotism ; 
in 1 784 he became the bearer of the ratified treaty of 
peace to England. Near this mansion are specimens of 
the famous Franklin tree, transplanted here from Bartram's 
garden. 



358 

The next place of interest is Strawberry Mansion, 
situated on the highest point in East Park, commanding 
a fine view of the park drives and the Schuylkill River. 
This land was given by William Penn to the sons of 
Swan Schute, a Swede, in exchange for the land at Wi- 
caco, held by Swan's sons, whose title to the Wicaco 




The Strawberry Mansion. 



land was granted by a patent from the Swedish queen, 
Christina, in 1664. To the north of Strawberry Mansion 
have been other famous country seats, as Harleigh, Fairy 
Hill, and the New Laurels. From Strawberry Mansion 
we pass down a ravine and enter the river drive leading 
to the P'alls of the Schuylkill. A short distance up this 
drive is the Laurel Hill Cemetery. From here to the Falls 
the park is narrow, but the views of the river are pictur- 



359 

esque beyond description, and the outlook is fine for a 
mile farther, to the Wissahickon Park. 

Near the falls, on the east side of the Ridge Road, just 
outside of the park limits, stood for many years the home 
of Governor Thomas Mifflin, the " fighting Quaker." Near 
by, Joseph Neff, a pioneer schoolmaster of Pennsylvania, 
taught school for many years. Of this school and school- 
master Mr. Keyser wrote : 

" . . . Of all men who ever taught school he was the 
best beloved by his scholars. He read the rules laid down 
by Solomon backward, spared the children and spoiled 
the rods. He built the Temple of Science at the foot of 
the hill, and made it as easy to get there as to coast on 
sleds in winter. He was out of doors with the boys all 
summer; never had a hat on his head nor a cent in his 
pocket ; never got tired running up and down hills ; was 
the best swimmer and the best skater, and his boys the 
best swimmers and the best skaters in the whole neighbor- 
hood ; he never had a book in his school, and could 
whistle through his fingers like a steam whistle. ... So 
here to the memory of * the Jolly old Pedagogue,' who 
first brought into this country the system of Pestalozzi, 
which revolutionized and humanized education, and the 
good influence of which is felt to this hour in all the com- 
mon schools of America." 

From the river at Falls Bridge, a fine view is obtained 
of the Schuylkill Navy's race course. Famous oarsmen, 
boat clubs, and college teams have rowed over this course, 
and when the river is frozen it is a favorite resort for skat- 
ing parties. On the opposite side of the bridge is West 
Park, the largest division of Fairmount Park. 



36o 

Among the historic mansions in this division of Fair- 
mount Park, none is more interesting than Belmont, the 
home of a rank tory, WilHam Peters, and his son, Richard 
Peters, a stanch patriot. The property originally consisted 
of two hundred and twenty acres, and according to the 
inscription on a stone in the end of the house, the build- 
ing was erected by " T. W. P." in 1745. When the elder 
Mr. Peters went to England, his son took possession of the 
property and retained it until his death in 1828. 

Richard Peters was a prominent man in the history of 
the United States, and was very popular with the people 
of Pennsylvania. He was Secretary of War during the 
Revolution, possessed the confidence of Washington and 
Congress, and acted as judge of the United States District 
Court for thirty-nine years. He was a distinguished 
agriculturist, and wrote extensively on the subject of ag- 
riculture, while he demonstrated his theories practically, in 
his gardens at Belmont. The judge was fond of society ; 
he was genial and hospitable, always ready to tell tales 
with Robert Morris, feast John Adams, or sing a song 
with Benjamin Franklin. He enjoyed discussing agricul- 
ture with Farmer Breck, finances with Hamilton, military 
affairs with Washington, trees and plant life with Bar- 
tram, and statecraft with Jefferson and Lee. The Indians 
adopted him into their tribe, and called him '' Tegohtias," 
the "talking bird," because he told them such pleasant 
stories. 

Among the guests of Judge Peters were the most dis- 
tinguished men of the time, Washington, Adams, and 
Jefferson, Talleyrand, Louis Philippe, Lafayette, Baron de 
Steuben, and others. In fancy we can see Washington 



36: 




Belmont. 



driving up the avenue, and upon his arrival at Belmont 
being received by the judge with every mark of courtesy. 
"In its beautiful gardens, beneath the shadows of the lofty 
hemlocks, he [Washington] would sequester himself from 
the w^orld, the cares and torments of business, and enjoy a 
recreative and unceremonious intercourse with the judge." 
One day while they were sauntering in the gardens at 
Belmont, the judge handed Washington a large Spanish 
chestnut. Washington suggested planting it, and the 
judge made a hole in the ground with his cane, where- 
upon Washington dropped the nut, and the judge covered 
it with earth. This grew into a large tree and bore abun- 
dantly. On another occasion Lafayette, at the request of 
the judge, planted a walnut tree, which grew, and is still 
standing. The chestnut tree which Washington planted is 



362 

dead, but two of its descendants remain as fine, large 
trees. When on his last visit to Philadelphia Lafayette 
spent much of his time at Belmont. Thomas Jefferson 
was also a frequent visitor, and often rode on horseback 
to Belmont from his home at Gray's Ferry. 

The graveled walks were lined with shrubbery, and 
along its drive in 1 780 stood the grandest avenue of 
hemlock trees in America. An enthusiastic writer said : 
" The view from the hall door is worth a journey across 
the continent. It is one uninterrupted descending vista 
to the river, greensward, woodland, sunlight and shadow, 
holding and never wearying the gaze." 

This mansion which Judge Peters built is still standing, 
and is now used as a restaurant. Here the visitor may see 
the original fireplaces and mantels, the coat of arms of 
the Peters family, and many other objects of interest. 

Down by the riverside, east of Belmont, is a small, ivy- 
mantled house, hidden by forest trees. It is called 
"Tom Moore's Cottage," and here the sweet Irish singer 
is reputed to have lived during his visit to Philadelphia in 
1804. He thus sings of this rustic home: 

'' I knew by the smoke that so gracefully curled 
Across the green elms that a cottage was near, 

And I said, ' If there's peace to be found in the world, 
A heart that is humble might hope for it here.' " 

Again he sang: 

*' Alone by the Schuylkill a wanderer roved, 
And bright were its flowery banks to his eye ; 

But far, very far, were the friends that he loved, 
And he gazed on its flowery banks with a sigh ! " 



3^3 

South of Belmont is Lansdowne, at one time the prop- 
erty of the Rev. WlUiam Smith, provost of the College of 
Pennsylvania, who sold it to Governor John Penn, a 
worthy grandson of William Penn. John Penn, built a 
house and lived here in royal style from 1773 to 1787, 
part of which time he served as governor. Lansdowne 
mansion was a fine structure with Greek porticoes. A 
broad lane led from the main road to the mansion, and, it 
is said, a secret passage led from the house to the river. 
When the British army occupied Philadelphia, 1777-78, a 
part of the forces encamped on the grounds at Lans- 
downe, and after the Revolution Washington visited the 
Penn family at this place. 

On the death of John Penn, Lansdowne became the prop- 
erty of Airs. Penn, who deeded it to a relative, James 
Greenleaf, a partner with Robert Alorris in real estate 
speculations. When they failed Lansdowne was sold by 
the sheriff to \\'illiam Bingham, a wealthy Philadelphian, 
for fifty-five thousand one hundred dollars. He lived 
here with his young and beautiful wife, Anne Willing, 
the sixteen-year-old daughter of Judge Willing, also of 
Philadelphia. AL's. Bingham was noted throughout the 
country^ for her beauty and influence, the elegance of her 
home, the taste and the aristocratic distinction of the 
assemblages which frequently adorned it. ^Iv. and Mrs. 
Bingham had two daughters and one son. It is said that 
Louis Philippe d'Orleans, afterwards King of France, was 
intimate with the Bingham family and offered himself to 
one of the daughters; but the father declined the royal 
alliance, saying: "Should you e\-er be restored to your 
hereditary position, you will be too great a match for her ; 



3^4 




if not, she is too great a match for you." The daughters 
finally married the famous Baring brothers, English bank- 
ers. Of these Alexander Baring was raised to the peerage 
as Lord Ashburton, and was sent from England in 1841 

to settle the northeast boundary 
question. The Lansdowne man- 
sion was burned in 1854. 

Westward from Lansdowne 
is George's Hill, on an 
elevated plateau tw^o 
hundred and ten feet 
above high tide. Origi- 
nally it was a part of the 
tract granted by William 
Penn to Hugh Roberts, 
an eminent Friends' 
speaker. The title re- 
mained in the family 
until his descendants, 
Jesse and Rebecca George, presented eighty-three acres 
of the property to the city, in 1868, on condition that it 
remain a pleasure ground forever. On the occasion of 
this presentation Mr. George said : ** This property has 
been the uninterrupted home of my ancestors for many 
generations. Your purpose will carry out my views." 
From this hill there is a magnificent view of the park and 
the city. At its base stands an allegorical fountain, erected 
by the Catholic Total Abstinence Union in 1876. The 
most imposing figure of this fountain is Moses smiting the 
rock, while the other figures represent Father Theobald 
Mathew, the apostle of temperance ; Charles Carroll, a 



Jesse George. 



365 

signer of the Declaration of Independence; John Carroll, 
the first Roman Catholic bishop in the United States ; and 
Commodore John Barry, the first commodore of the United 
States navy. 

Adjacent to Lansdowne is Sweet Briar, at one time the 
property of James Greenleaf, who built the mansion now 
standing, in 1 798. Greenleaf failed, and the property 
was afterwards purchased by Judge Samuel Breck, who 
lived here for thirty-eight years, from 1824 to 1862, 
Judge Breck was a farmer, a merchant, a scholar, and a 
statesman. He loved children, and his home has long 
been their playground ; surely his heart would be filled 
with delight if he could see the merry children at play on 
the grounds of his Sweet Briar mansion, seeking out the 
spring violets, the summer daisies, and the autumn golden- 
rod. When in the Senate Judge Breck signed the bill for 
the emancipation of slaves within the State ; he drafted 
bills for a system of internal improvements ; he aided in 
consolidating the Episcopal Church in America; but the 
greatest act of his life was the drafting of a bill for the 
common school system of the State. Judge Breck lived 
through the most eventful period of American^ history, 
and his life spanned almost a century. 

South of Sweet Briar is a tract of land known as Eagles- 
field, or Egglesfield. This property was formerly a por- 
tion of the estate of William Warner, whose ancestors had 
made a treaty with the Indians and settled here on the west 
shore of the Schuylkill long before William Penn came to 
America. Here the disciples of Izaak Walton, who styled 
themselves "The Colony in Schuylkill," afterwards "The 
Schuylkill Fishing Company of the State in Schuylkill," 



366 

founded a fishing company in 1732, the oldest society of 
its kind in the United States. They paid " Baron " 
Warner for the use of the land and for the privilege of fish- 
ing, " three sun-perch fish annually." Baron Warner died 
September 12, 1794, and James Greenleaf purchased the 
property ; but, unable to retain it, sold it to Robert E. 
Griffith, who erected an elegant mansion in 1798, and 
called it Eaglesfield. in 18 10 Richard Rundle bought 
and further improved the place, but subsequently the 
mansion was destroyed. 

Directly north of Girard Avenue on this tract is the 
Letitia or Penn House, built by William Penn for his 
daughter Letitia in 1682-83. It formerly stood on 
Letitia Penn's lot, Market Street near Second, but was 
purchased by the park commissioners and removed to 
Fairmount Park in 1889. Here it is preserved as the first 
brick building erected in the city of Philadelphia, the first 
American home of William Penn, and the first Statehouse 
in the province of Pennsylvania. 

At the west end of Girard Avenue Bridge is Solitude, the 
home of John Penn, the poet, who was a cousin of John Penn 
of Lansdowne. When he arrived in America he bought 
the land where the Zoological Garden is now situated, and 
in 1785 built Solitude, a quaint structure still standing. 
In this house, which was "just big enough for a bachelor, 
and cozy enough for a poet," he shut himself up from the 
business world to write poetry. Solitude is now used 
as the office of the Zoological Society, and a confusion 
of animal sounds deprives it of all poetical associations. 
Southward of this property is Fairmount Bridge, the 
southern terminus of West Park. 



367 



The third division of Fairmount Park is W'issahickon 
Park, the most romantic and picturesque part of the entire 
tract. It is renowned for its beautiful legends, which 
have become a part of our natural romance, and the stories 
of the queer ideas held by the people who lived in this 
romantic place are as dear to the citizens of Philadelphia 




Entrance to Wissahickon Park. 

and the people of Pennsylvania as is the story of Rip \'an 
Winkle to the people of New York. In a journey through 
this part of the park we follow the Wissahickon drive six 
and seven-tenths miles till we reach the county line. As 
we enter the park we leave the sunshine, as well as the 
noise of traffic, to the outside world. In the deep recesses 
of this ravine we feel the majesty and power of nature, and 



368 

forget for the moment that just over the hilltops on each 
side is the bustle of business. Trees grow close to the 
water's edge; vines are pendent from the boughs; huge 
rocks that have long since broken loose from the maternal 
hills have rolled down their sides, and are now covered 




On the Wissahickon. 

with moss, from under which little springs start forth, 
wiading their way through miniature valleys to mingle 
with the waters of the Wissahickon. 

We enter Wissahickon Park by way of the drive, 
where the pier of the Norristown railroad bridge rests on 
the northwest bank of the Wissahickon Creek. Tradition 
says that on this site stood a flour mill in the days of the 
Revolution, and that the owner ground glass or plaster 



369 

with the wheat, and furnished the mixture to the patriot 
army with the intention of kiUing them. For this crime 
some of Washington's soldiers came and hanged him on a 
sycamore tree in front of his mill. It was here that Gen- 
eral Armstrong's corps attacked the Hessian and British 
soldiers, October 4, 1777, while the battle of Germantown 
was in progress. 

One fourth of a mile farther up the drive is Wissa- 
hickon Hall, now a shelter and a guardhouse. Within 
view is Maple Spring Hotel, a cozy and comfortable park 
restaurant. Its occupant has carved grotesque figures of 
animals and birds out of the laurel native to the soil, and 
with these has decorated his home. Beyond this is the 
site of a log cabin, while opposite is a footbridge, and a 
short distance above, a carriage bridge. Across the 
stream and just outside the park limits in Roxborough is 
the Hermits' Spring, walled up by Kelpius, and also a 
cedar tree which he planted. 

Near by are abrupt bluffs, and the most prominent of 
these is Lovers' Leap. It derives its name from an Indian 
legend, to the effect that a mighty Indian chief promised 
his daughter in marriage to the warrior who could outrun 
his competitors. The young Indian whom the girl loved 
was not the winner, but a wiry old warrior gained the day. 
Overcome by grief, the defeated lover and the devoted 
maiden gained the summit of the rock, plunged into the 
waters below, and were drowned. 

From here there is rather a steep grade to the six-mile 
stone. At this point Paper Mill Run enters the Wissa- 
hickon, and here Nicholas Rittenhouse had his grist mill. 
Just above Paper Mill Run is Rittenhouse town, a group 

STO. OF PHIL.— 24 



370 

of plain substantial houses ; close beside an old bridge 
to the right is one more quaint and picturesque than all 
the others, and in this ancient structure is a stone tablet 
inscribed, " C. \V. R., 1707"; here David Rittenhouse, 
the famous philosopher and astronomer, was born. This 
old homestead, now included in the park limits, is standing 
in good condition and tenanted. On Paper Mill Run the 
first paper mill in the country was erected about 1690 by 
William Rittenhouse, the great-grandfather of the philos- 
opher David Rittenhouse. A portion of this land near 
Tulpohocken Street, Germantown, now in the park, once 
belonged to the Queen of Spain. A short distance from 
the junction of Rittenhouse Avenue with the park drive 
is the Blue Stone Bridge, at the south end of which are a 
dam and the remains of an old race which mark the site 
of a mill. Just beyond the west end of the bridge, hid- 
den behind the hillside, is Lotus Inn, a popular summer 
resort. 

Northward the park road is comparatively level ; the east 
shore of the creek becomes more steep, and the narrow 
trails more difficult to follow, until they cease at Mom 
Rinker's Rock. There is a legend that Mom Rinker was 
a witch ; that she rode to the moon on a broomstick ; 
that she drank dew from acorns ; that she had an evil eye 
that soured the neighbors' milk, and that she fell from this 
cliff and was killed. It is no doubt true that she brewed 
strange decoctions from the herbs, roots, and bark of the 
trees, but the rest of the story is fanciful. Upon the 
height from which she is said to have fallen stands a statue 
of William Penn, with a-single word, "Toleration," cut in 
bold letters on the pedestal. This statue was the gift of the 



371 

Hon. John Welsh, ex-minister to England, who at one time 
owned this land and gave it to the city for park purposes. 

One fourth of a mile farther on is Kitchen's Lane, 
which leads to the Monastery, formerly the home of 
monks of the Seventh-day Baptist order. Three mem^ 
bers of this society in the year 1737 " built a house in the 
valley one mile from Germantown," into which they moved 
in October of the same year, and the east end of this 
house is supposed to have been built by them. ** The 
west end, a large three-story house of dressed stone," with 
an old-fashioned hollow cornice, was built soon after i 747 
by Joseph Gorgas, ''at his own proper cost and charges," 
as recited in his deed to the property, 1752. Mr. Gorgas 
was a Seventh-day Baptist, and " hither were gathered 
congenial spirits like himself, and here they held sweet 
communion." In 1739 the last of these monks went to 
join the " solitary ones of Ephrata." It has been asserted 
that John Kelpius, the leader of the Society of the Woman 
in the Wilderness, and his forty disciples built the original 
monastery. There is no evidence, however, that Kelpius 
ever lived here. He was not the fo'under of the Seventh- 
day Baptists. His sect was scattered, and the society 
did not long exist after the death of Kelpius in i 708. 

No one lives in the Monastery now, but the house is 
cared for by the park commissioners. The guard at the 
entrance of Kitchen's Lane holds the massive key, and 
with a lantern leads the way through this curious relic. 
Around the house about a half acre of land is walled in, 
indicating a graveyard, which, it is said, belonged to the 
monks. 

Beyond the Monastery, near Livezy's Lane, are caves 



372 

once supposed to have been the abode of hermits. One 
is natural, but two others are artificial, and were probably 
made by prospectors for minerals. The largest is about 
thirty feet in depth, five and a half feet in height, and 
about the same in width. At Livezy's Lane we cross the 
bridge, and a half mile beyond, by the bridle path, is 
Livezy's mansion, which, it is claimed, was neutral ground, 
where British and American officers met on terms of in- 
timacy during the winter of 1777-78. Above here the 
Cresheim Creek, a wild stream with wilder legends, enters 
the Wissahickon. On the steep hillside is a rustic bridge 
overlooking the Wissahickon, and a small tributary, which 
flows into it among great masses of huge rocks and under 
tall pines, making a dark pool called the Devil's Pool, which 
was supposed by the superstitious to be bottomless. It 
was in this valley in 1776 that a body of patriots from 
Roxborough met for the last time before entering the 
service of the Continental army. Fathers, mothers, sis- 
ters, wives, and sweethearts came here with their loved 
ones to bid them Godspeed, and here they prayed to the 
God of their fathers for success in the cause of liberty. 

Just beyond is Valley Green, a quaint old wayside inn, 
and above this is Happy Valley, where the water falls 
over rocks several feet in height, forming beautiful cas- 
cades, and then rushes on to the Wissahickon. A half 
mile beyond Valley Green is the first public fountain 
erected in Philadelphia. It was placed here in 1854 by 
two philanthropic citizens. Over the basin is the inscrip- 
tion, " Pro bono publico," and beneath, " Esto Perpetua." 
A half mile beyond, at the east end of Rex Bridge, is 
Indian Rock. Its summit is crowned by the heroic effigy 



373 

of an Indian carved in wood and painted in gaudy 
colors. This figure is said to represent Tedyuscung, the 
last of the Indian chiefs to leave the shores of the Dela- 
ware. It represents him in the act of stepping forth upon 
his journey toward the setting sun, with his bow and 
spear in hand, and a plume of eagle feathers on his brow. 
Northwest the ravine is deep and the hills are steep ; the 
valley winds toward Chestnut Hill, the northern terminus 
of Wissahickon Park, and our journey through the park 
is ended. 

One of the most important utilities of Fairmount Park 
is its waterworks. The' total reservoir capacity of the 
city is 1,417,860,000 gallons, and its pumpage capacity is 
399,040,000 gallons daily. Of this 321,290,000 gallons 
are pumped out of the Schuylkill River within the park 
limits. From the inception of Fairmount Park it was the 
intention of the city authorities to acquire lands adjacent 
to the Schuylkill River and Wissahickon Creek in order 
that the purity of the city water supply might be pre- 
served. As early as 18 19 council ordered the erection 
of a great dam, and wheels were placed in a race, and 
these pumped the water up to Fairmount reservoir, July 
I, 1822, about a hundred feet above tide. The man who 
did this work was Frederick Graff of Philadelphia, and 
near the reservoir is placed a memorial statue of this 
famous engineer. 

The public buildings of Fairmount Park are costly, and 
the designs of many of them are admirable. Horticultural 
Hall and Memorial Hall especially deserve notice. These 
buildings are memorials of the United States Centennial 
Exposition of 1876. 



374 

Horticultural Hall, the larger of these two beautiful 
buildings, is situated on the original Lansdowne tract 
in West Park, south of Belmont. It covers more than an 
acre of ground, is built of fireproof material, and is used 
as a forcing house for the propagation of rare and valuable 
plants, and as a storehouse for the magnificent tree ferns 
and other tropical plants which delighted the millions of 




Horticultural Hall. 



visitors during the Centennial Exposition. To every plant 
loving visitor it is a source of delight. The visitor in 
summer never fails of being charmed, for the lawn about 
the hall, as well as the interior, is beautifully laid out in 
flower beds and adorned with imposing statuary. Some 
of these deserve special mention, as the granite statue of 
Dr. John Witherspoon, at one time president of Prince- 
ton College and a member of the Continental Congress; 



375 

a monument commemorative of " Religious Liberty," 
erected by the Hebrews; a statue of the poet Goethe, 
and also one of Schiller, erected by the Germans; and a 
statue of Columbus, erected by the Italians ; while within 
the hall is the beautiful statue " II Penseroso." 

A short distance southwest from Horticultural Hall is 
Memorial Hall. Its erection began July 4, 1874, under 







Memorial Hall. 



the direction of the State legislature, which contributed 
one million dollars, and of the councils of Philadel- 
phia, which contributed five hundred thousand dollars, 
toward its erection. The building was completed March 
I, 1876. Like Horticultural Hall, it is built of iron, glass, 
and granite. It is situated on an elevated plateau one 



376 _ 

hundred and sixteen feet above the river, and is unsur- 
passed in design and finish by any art building in this 
country. It has well-proportioned galleries and finely 
lighted pavilions, and accommodates eight thousand per- 
sons. Memorial Hall was occupied by art exhibits during 
the Centennial Exposition, but now it is under the con- 
trol of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial 
Art, and is occupied by their exhibits. Here are exhib- 
ited the Pompeian collection of paintings, illustrative of 
Pompeian life; also the Wilstach collection of paintings; 
the Bloomfield-Moore collection from every department 
of art ; the Hector-Tyndale collection of pottery and por- 
celain ; the old German ironwork, the rare glass from 
Vienna and Venice, and many other objects of interest in 
art and history. 

The grounds surrounding Memorial Hall are beautifully 
laid out and are adorned with flower beds and statuary. 
Among the latter is the heroic bronze statue of Major 
General George Gordon Meade. Two Pegasi, or winged 
horses, guided by Calliope and Euterpe, the muses of 
epic and lyric poetry, guard the entrance. 

The Zoological Garden is situated at the west end of 
Girard Avenue Bridge, and is one of the most attractive, 
interesting, and instructive places in Fairmount Park. It 
is directed by the Zoological Society, which was incor- 
porated in 1859, and it was opened on the grounds of 
Solitude July 4, 1874. This garden contains a large and 
varied collection of wild animals. 

The works of art in Fairmount Park are imposing and 
rare. They have been placed there by the earnest efforts 
of the friends of the park, citizens of Philadelphia, and 



377 

various organizations, among which is the Fairmount 
Park Art Association, incorporated by the legislature of 
Pennsylvania February 2 1, 1876. The object of this 
society is to accumulate a fund which will be employed 
in adorning the park, and this enterprise has proved emi- 
nently successful. Memorial statues, costly pictures, and 
busts have been procured and placed throughout the park 
by these pioneers of artistic taste, and thus Fairmount Park 
has become the rival in art of other noted parks of the 
world. 

Many other objects of interest are found in Fairmount 
Park, such as birds, fishes, plant life, and minerals. The 
birds of the park vary in number with the seasons of 
the year. Most of them are summer visitors, coming 
with the south wind and leaving for a warmer climate 
with the first cool breeze from the north. Some thirty 
varieties of varied plumage and song are seen and heard 
from May until October. Others come with the first 
frosts from the north, and stay with us through the win- 
ter. Others, again, are migratory, such transient guests 
that they scarcely stop to feed or tarry for the night. The 
bluebird, quail, robin, meadow lark, English sparrow, and 
wren, and their relentless enemies, the hawk and owl, are 
perennial residents. 

The flora of the park is remarkable for its extent and 
variety. Thousands of trees are set out in the park an- 
nually, and many choice specimens are among them. The 
trees and shrubs are grouped together, so that the stu- 
dent may see their natural affinity at a glance. There are 
some three hundred families of flowers, and each variety 
has its garden spot. The ferns grow naturally on the 



378 

hillsides and in the rocky and wooded ravines ; the spring 
violets are found everywhere ; the buttercups in June, 
and the asters in August, make a flower bed of the river 
meadows, while in September and October the hills are 
ablaze with goldenrod. The first flower to peep forth 
from the snows of winter is the trailing arbutus on the 
hills of the Wissahickon, and the black and red berries at 
Belmont cling to their stems till late into the winter. 

For the mineralogist and geologist the park and its 
vicinity are full of attractions. Many varieties of minerals 
have been found in the park inclosure, some of which are 
very rare. 

In the enjoyment of this trip through Fairmount Park 
we ought not to forget the achievements of the park com- 
missioners through the many years of its development. 
By their earnest efi"orts and untiring zeal they have be- 
queathed to the citizens of Philadelphia an unexcelled 
pleasure ground, an ideal children's playground, and a 
famous health resort. Surely they have carried out the 
sentiment of one of the early park commissioners who 
said : " We have and will keep this park ; we will improve 
and love it; it shall be our pride and perpetual enjoy- 
ment ; it shall be for us ' a thing of beauty and a joy 
forever.' " 



INDEX. 



Abolitionists, 339-348. 

Academy, the, 74, 75. 

Adams, John, death of, 221, 235; mem- 
ber of Congress, 148, 156, 157, 292, 
298; on independence, 164, 167, 178, 
181 ; on the American army, 192 ; 
President of the United States, 91, 291. 

Adams, Samuel, 157. 

Adolphus, Gustavus, 14. 

Agnew, General, 237, 245. 

Allen. Misses, 331. 

Allen, Priscilla, 34. 

American Association, 160, 161. 

American Philosophical Society, hall of, 
207, 213, 214 ; members of, 104, 142, 
145, 196, 214, 308, 309 ; organized, 103, 
104 139, 180, 183. 

Arnest mansion, 357. 

Arnold, Benedict, 256, 284, 355. 

Arnold. Mrs. See Shippen, ''Peggy." 

Ashburn, Joseph, 275. 

Auchmuty, Miss, 251. 

Ayres, Captain, 218, 219. 

Bache, Richard, 99, 327. 

Bache, Mrs. Richard, 99, 327. 

Bainbridge, William, 92. 

Baltimore, Lord, 12, 16, 29. 

Baring, Alexander, 364. 

Barton, Thomas, 138, 139. 

Bartram, John, 125-134. 

Bartram, William, 128. 

Bartram cup, 133. 

Bartram garden, 125-134. 

Bartram house, 126-134. 

Bartram station, 125. 

Bartram tree, 126. 

Belmont, 360-362. 

Belt of wampum, 38. 

Benezet, Anthony, 70, 71. 

Bingham, Mrs. Anne W., 327, 328, 363. 

Blewer, Joseph, 83. 

Blue Anchor Tavern, 28. 

Bond, Thomas, 104. 

Bradford, William. 35, 94. 

Breck, Samuel, 360, 365. 



British army, at the battle of German- 
town, 237, 238, 241-246 ; at Yorktown, 
194; in Philadelphia, 220, 230, 235. 

Brooks, Edward, 29, 276. 

" Budd's Long Row," 28. 

Budden, Captain, 87, 217. 

Burd, Edward, 357. 

Cadwalader house, 230. 

Carpenters' Hall, 147-153, 155, 291. 

Carroll, Charles, 221, 364. 

Caspipina. See Christ Church and St. 
Peter's Chiirrh. 

Centennial Exposition, 153, 373-376. 

Charles II., 16, 18, 20, 25. 

Charter of Privileges, 46, 47. 

Chastellux, Francois Jean, 194. 

Chester, 27, 45. 

Chew, Benjamin, 200. 

Chew, Harriet, 330. 

Chew, " Peggy," 330. 

Chew house, in Philadelphia, 195 ; in 
Germantown, 237, 238, 242-244, 247. 

Christ Church, erected, 85-92. 

Christ Church bells, 209, 216, 217, 287. 

Christ Church cemetery, 92. 

Christina, 14, 358. 

Cincinnati, Society of, 196, 300, 351. 

City Hall, 207, 212, 213. 

Clay, Henry, 337. 

Clay, Jehu Curtis, 83 

Claypoole, John, 275, 276. 

"Chffs," the, 355. 

Cliveden. See Chew House. 

Clunice. See Mount Pleasant. 

Coleman mansion. See Woodford. 

College of Philadelphia, 104, 302, See 
also University of Petinsylvania. 

Collin, Nicholas, 82, 83. 

Collinson, Peter, 109-112, 127, 132, 133. 

Colonial Dames, Society of, 276, 293. 

Congress Hall, Adams inaugurated in, 
298 ; location of, 207, 290 ; restoration 
of, 293; tablets, 294; United States 
Congress in, 290-292, 300; Washing- 
ton inaugurated in, 284, 291, 295-297. 



379 



38o 



Continental Congress, first, 88, 102, 147, 

153-163- 
Continental Congress, second, 91, 162, 

164, 165, 197, 200. 203, 205. 214. 
Continental flag. See Washingion' > 

Grand Union Flag. 
Cornwallis, Lord, at Yorktown, 264; in 

Philadelphia, 235, 245; surrender of, 

122, 194, 220, 265. 
Cresheim Creek, 372. 
Cunningham, Thomas, 151. 
Cushing, Judge, 288, 297. 
Gushing, Thomas, 157. 

Dale, Richard, 92. 

Darrah, Lydia, 229-234, 

Darrah, William, 229, 232. 

Davis, Isaac, 151. 

Declaration House, 182-184. 

Declaration of Independence, copies of, 

179-182 ; reading of, 172, 173, 211 ; 

reasons for the, 163-171. 
Declaration of Rights, 160, 200. 
Delaware River, settlements on the, 11- 

17; treaty on the, 13. 
Democratic Society, 221. 
Devils Pool, 372. 
De Vries, 13. 
Dickinson, Anna, 351. 
Dickinson, John, in Congress, 155; on 

independence, 167, 170; on union, 161, 

162. 
Dock, Christopher, 71-74. 
Donaldson, Thomas, 183, 184. 
Duane, William J., 321, 322. 
Duche, Jacob, Rev., letter to Washing- 
ton, 332; praver in Congress, 88, 89, 

157. 158. 
Dutch settlers, 11-17. 
D'Yrujo, Chevalier, 297, 331. 

Eckley, Sarah, 326, 327. 
Edgely. See Randolph. 
Ellsworth, Oliver, 213, 298. 
English settlers, 11-17. 

Fairmount Park, 351-378. 
Fairy Hill, 358. 
Ferguson, Elizabeth, 332. 
Flag, United States, 270-278. 
Flag Day, 269, 276 
Flag House, 273-277. 
Flags of the colonies, 270. 
Flower, Enoch, 67. 
Fort Casimir, 15. 
Fort Christina, 15. 
Fort McHenry, 278. 
Fountain Green, 354. 
Foumier, Julia Alexia, 337, 338. 
Fox, George, 20. 



" Frame of Government," 43, 44. 65. 

France oifers aid to the colonies, 121. 

Franklin, Benjamin, ambassador to 
France, 120; and independence, 170, 
174, 178, 181; arrival in Philadelphia, 
93 ; death of, 123 ; elected Postmaster- 
General, 119; founds the American 
Philosophical Society, 103, 104,214; 
founds the Junto, 100; founds the 
Pennsylvania Hospital, 105; founds 
the Philadelphia Library, 102, 103 ; 
grave of, 92, 124; in public life, 114- 
124, 204; marriage, 99; medals and 
degrees, 113; minister plenipoten- 
tiar\' of United States to France. 
122; on education, 74, 76, 104; one of 
the committee to draft the Declara- 
tion, 119, 167; on electricity, 107-113; 
plan of confederation, 164; president 
of the State, 123 ; suggests a national 
flag, 270. 

Franklin, Mrs. Deborah, 93, 96, 99. 

Franklin, Francis Folger, 99. 

Franklin, Sarah, 99, 327. 

Franklin Institute, no. 

Franklin tree, 3^7. 

Franks, Rebecca, 252, 330, 331. 

Genest, Edmund, Citizen, 288. 

George, Jesse, 350, 351, 364. 

George, Rebecca, 350, 351, 364. 

George II., 90. 

George III., 173, 175, 217. 

George's Hill, 350, 351, 364. 

Germantown, founding of, 56-64; bat- 
tle of, 235-248. 

Germantown Academy, 60. 

Gerry. Elbridge, 174. 

Girard, Mrs. Mary, 312, 318, 319. 

Girard, Stephen, aids in yellow fever 
epidemic, 317, 318 ; arrival in Phila- 
delphia, 310; character of, 319, 320, 
324; death of, 321, 322; loan to the gov- 
ernment, 316, 317; marriage of, 313 ; 
patriotism of, 314; will of, 320-323. 

Girard, Stephen, Bank of, 315. 

Girard College, 322-325. 

Girard statue, at City Hall, 324; at 
Girard College, 324.' 

Godfrey, Thomas, 214. 

Goodwin, Abigail, 339. 

Graff, Frederick, 373. 

Grant, General, statue of, 354. 

" Grant s Cabin," 353. 

Gratz, Rebecca. 334-337. 

" Great Law," 44, 45. 

Greene, General, 240, 244-246. 

"Greenwood, Grace," 332. 

Grew, Mary, 343. 

Griffiths, Hannah, 332. 



381 



Hamilton, Alexander, 265, 268, 360. 
Hamilton, Andrew, 198, 291. 
Hancock, John, 148, 165, 172, 187 

202. 
Happy Valley, 372. 
Hard," Elizabeth, 325. 
Harleigh, 358. 

Harrison, Benjamin, 164, 174. 
Helm, Peter, 318. 
Hendricksen, Cornells, 12, 13. 
Henry, Patrick, 148, 156, 159, 164, 186. j 
Hermit's Spring, 369. 
Heyser, Captain, 13. 
Hicks, Elias, 152. 
Holker, John, 284. 
Hopkinson, Francis, 92, 104. 
Horticultural Hall, 373-376. 
Howe, General, 230-232, 235, 237, 239, 

242, 245, 250, 255, 256, 284. 
Howe, Lord, 120, 248, 254, 257. 
Hudde, Ar.dreas, 15. 
Hudson, Henry, 12. 
Hughes, John,' 117, 209, 261. 
Humphreys, Charles, 170. 
Huntingdon. Samuel, 258. 
Hutter, Elizabeth E., 338, 339. 

Independence, Declaration of, commit- , 
tee appointed to draft the, 166, 167; 
first mentioned, 164; Pennsylvania I 
delegates vote for, 170; reading of, 
172, 173, 211; signing and engross-] 
ment of, 172, 173, 205. 

Independence, Resolution for, 165, 205. 

Independence Hall, Constitution for 
Pennsylvania framed in, 200, 206; 
Declaration of Independence signed 
in, 205; Declaration of Rights con- 
firmed in, 200; erection of, 197, 198; 
Nonimportation Act signed in, 204; 
original charter of Philadelphia in, 1 
207; portraits in, 200, 203, 206; Reso- 
lution for independence offered in, . 
205 ; restoration of, 199 ; second Con- [ 
tinental Congress meets in, 200, 205; ! 
tablets in, 201 ; United States Consti- | 
tution and, 206, 281 ; United States : 
created in, 205; United States flag j 
and Congress in, 206, 269, 272 ; Wash- 
ington appointed commander in 
chief in, 203. 281; welcome to Lafay- 
ette in. 221. 

Independence Square, 209-211, 220. 

Indian Rock, 372, 373. 

Indians, 11, 13, 14, 29, 34. 36-42, 209, 
286, 360. '>Q&d\>,o Red Jacket, Tama- 
nend, and Tedyuscimg. 

Irving, Washington, 337. 

Irwin, William, 92. 

Israel, Hannah, 328, 329. 



Jan sen, Reyneir, 60. 

Jay, John, 161, 213. 

Jay's treaty, 289, 295. 

Jefferson, Thomas, 145, 164, 167, 175- 

185, 221. 
Jeffersonian Democracy, 285. 
Jewish Foster Home, 335-337. 
Johnson, Sir Henn.-, 330, 331. 
Johnson, Oliver, 340. 
Johnson, Thomas, 187. 
Jones, John Paul, 278. 
Junto Club, 100. 

Kearsley, John, 87. 

Keimer, Samuel, 95, 97, 98. 

Keith, George, 67, 68, 86. 

Keith, Sir William, 95-97, 326. 

Kelpius, John, 369, 371. 

Key, Francis Scott, 278. 

Key, John, 35. 

Kinnersley, Ebenezer, 104, 113, 214. 

Kitchen's Lane, 371. 

Knox, General, 194, 243, 296. 

Kuhn, Dr , 302. 

Lafayette, Marquis de, 121, 191, 192, 

206, 221, 282, 352. 
Lancaster, Joseph, 76. 
Lancasterian schools, 322. 
Lansdowne, 349, 363, 364, 374. 
Lee, Charles, 92. 
Lee, Richard Henry, 161, 165-168, 179- 

181, 205, 219. 
Leeds, Daniel, 35. 
Lemon Hill, 349, 352. 
Leslie, Eliza, 332. 
Letitia House. "^ See Peyin House. 
Lewes, Delaware, 13. 
Liberty Bell, 214-220. 
Lincoln, Abraham, 42. 345. 
Lincoln monument, 351, 352. 
Livezy's Lane, 371, 372. 
Livingston, R. R., 1O7. 
Loe, Thomas, 20, 22. 
Logan, Mrs. Deborah, 331. 
Logan, James, 102, 130, 332. 
Lotus Inn, 370. 
Louis XV., 113. 
Louis XVI., 121, 123. 
Lover's Leap, 369. 
Loxley house, 230. 
Ludw'ig, Christopher, 222-229. 
Luzerne, M. de la, 195. 
L%-Bch, Mr., 270. 
Lyon, Pat, 150, 151. 

McClintock, Mary, 346. 
McDowell, Annie E., 333. 
McKean, Sallv, 331, 333. 
McKean, Thomas, 169, 170, 173. 220. 



382 



McLane, Allen, 241, 255, 

MacPherson, John, 355, 356. 

Madison, Mrs". Dolly, 331. 

Madison, James, 202, 296, 316. 

Makin, Thomas, 68, 69. 

Markham. William, 27, 36, 47, 48. 

Marshall, John, 221, 299. 

Mathew, Theobald, 364. 

Mead, William, 23, 24. 

Memorial Hall, 373-375. 

Mennonites, 57, 58. 

Meredith, Hugh, 97, 98. 

Mey, Cornells Jacobsen, 12, 13. 

Mifflin, Thomas, 223, 359. 

Minuit, Peter, 14. 

Mischianza, 248-257, 330, 332. 

Mom Rinker's Rock, 370. 

Monastery, the, 371. 

Moore, Esther, 339. 

Morgan, Dr, John, 328. 

Morgan, Mary, 328. 

Morris, Mrs. Mary, 260, 268. 

Morris, Robert, 92, 170, 194, 198, 235, 

258-269, 273, 352. 
Morton, John, 170. 
Mother St. John. See Foumier, Julia 

Alexia. 
Mott, James, 341, 348. 
Mott, Lucretia, 340-348. 
Mount Moriah Cemetery, 276, 277. 
Mount Pleasant, 355, 
Mount Vernon, 185, 196, 282, 290, 300. 
Muhlenberg, Henry, 235. 
Musgrave, Colonel, 238, 242, 244. 

Nash, General, 243. 

Nassau, Fort, 13. 

Neff, Joseph, 359. 

New Castle, 15, 16, 27. 

New Laurels, 358. 

New Sweden, 14, 15. 

Nixon, John, 172, 211, 220. 

Norris, Deborah, 211, 327. 

Norris, Isaac, 202, 216, 217. 

North America, Bank of, 262, 263. 

" Onas." See Penn, William. 
Ormiston, 355-357. 

Paoli, massacre of, 235, 241. 

Paper mill, first in Pennsylvania, 60, 

135- 
Paper Mill Run, 369. 
Pastorius, Francis Daniel, founder of 

Germantown, 56-64. 
Payne, Dolly. See Madison, Mrs. Dolly. 
Peale, Charles Wilson, 193, 214, 272. 
Pendleton, Edmund, 186. 
Penn, Admiral William, 18, 20, 21, 24. 
Penn, Mrs. Gulielma Maria, 24. 



Penn, Mrs. Hannah Callowhill, 41, 326. 

Penn, John, grandson of William Penn, 
363- 

Penn, John, cousin of the grandson of 
William Penn, 366. 

Penn, John, the American, 54, 326. 

Penn, Letitia, 326. 

Penn, William, accepts Friends' doc- 
trines, 21, 23; arrival at Philadelphia, 
28, 30; becomes proprietor of Penn- 
sylvania, 25 ; death of, 55 ; early life, 
18-24 ; government of, 42-47 ; in 
France, Italy, England, Ireland, Hol- 
land, Germany, 21, 22, 24, 25 ; and In- 
dians, 36-40, 326 ; in prison, 23, 24, 55 ; 
marriage of, 24 ; Philadelphia and, 
47-55; returns to England, 52-54. 

Penn and Fairmount Park, 348, 351, 354, 
358, 364- 

Penn and Logan, correspondence of, 
332. 

Penn Charter School, 68-70. 

Penn Day, 29. 

Penn House, 53, 366. 

Penn National Bank, 182, 183. 

Penn statue on City Hall, 55. 

Penn statue in Fairmount Park, 370. 

Penn's treaty with the Indians, 36-40. 

Pennsbury, 41, 54, 55. 

Pennsylvania, becomes a State, 213 ; 
Constitution of, 43, 44, 200, 206 ; first 
seal of, 45 ; naming of, 25, 26 ; set- 
tlers of, 30-36. 

Pennsylvania, Bank of, 149-151, 202. 

Pennsylvania, University of. See Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Abolition Society, 345. 

"Pennsylvania Farmer." See Dickin- 
soti, John. 

" Pennsylvania Gazette," 98, 103, 107. 

Pennsylvania Hospital, 105, 228, 308, 
319, 322. 

Pennsylvania Peace Society, 346. 

Pennypacker's Mills (Schwenksville), 
239, 246. 

Perkiomen Creek, 238, 246. 

Peters, Judge Richard, 360, 361, 

Peters, William, 360. 

Philadelphia Library, 90, 102, 103, 148, 
198, 332. 

Philadelphia Normal School, 75, 76. 

Philadelphia Tea Party, 210, 218. 

Philippe, Louis, 360. 

Physick, Philip Syng, 92, 357. 

"Plain Truth," 99. 

Plockhoy, Cornelisz, 59. 

Polly, 210, 218, 219. 

" Poor Richard's Almanac," 100, 107. 

Preston, Margaret, 326. 

Prince, Armgard, 325. 



383 



Printz, John, 14, 15. 
" Proposals Relating to the Education 
of Youth in Pennsylvania," 104. 

Randolph, 354, 357. 

Randolph, Peyton, 92, 157. 

Read, Deborah. See Franklin, Mrs. 
Deborah. 

Red Jacket, 286. 

Redmond, Mary, 329. 

Reed, Esther, 329. 

Reed, Joseph, 155, 329, 355, 356. 

Revere, Paul, 155, 157, 219. 

Rising, John, 15. 

Rittenhouse, David, birthplace of, 135, 
370 ; clockmaker, 138, 139, 213, 293 ; 
death of, 146 ; degrees conferred upon, 
145, 146; early life, 135-138; first 
director of the Mint, 145 ; first pro- 
fessor of astronomy in University of 
Pennsylvania, 144; first State trea- 
surer of Pennsylvania, 144 ; invents the 
first hygrometer in America, 142 ; in- 
vents the orrery, 140, 141 ; observes the 
transit of Venus and Mercury, 139, 
140; personal appearance, 146; presi- 
dent of the American Philosophical 
Society, 145, 214 ; surveyor, 142-145. 

Rittenhouse, Nicholas, 135. 

Rittenhouse, William, 135, 370. 

Rittenhouse town, 369. 

Roberts, Hugh, 364. 

Rochambeau, Count de, 194, 196, 264. 

Rockland, 355, 356. 

Rodney, Ca^sar, 169-171. 

Rogers, Mr., 99. 

Ross, Betsy, 269-277. 

Ross, Colonel George, 273, 274. 

Ross, John, 274. 

Royal Charlotte, 209, 218. 

Royal Society of Europe, 109, 112, 113. 

Rush, Benjamin, aids in yellow fever epi- 
demic, 306, 307; and David Ritten- 
house, 138, 143; birth of, 300; death of, 
310; education, 301,302; grave of, 92, 
310 ; medals and degrees, 308; on edu- 
cation, 305 ; on independence, 303, 304; 
philanthropy of, 304; religion of, 309 ; 
treasurer of United States Mint, 308. 

Rush, Phoebe Ann, 333, 334. 

Rutledge, Edward, 169. 

Rutledge, John, 213. 

Sa-go-ya-wat-ha. See Red Jacket, 
St. John, Hector, 128. 
St. Joseph, Sisters of, 338. 
St. Peter's Church, 88, 216. 
School, first, in Philadelphia, 66, 67. 
School, public grammar, first, in Phila- 
delphia, 67, 68. 



School management, first treatise on, in 

United States, 72, 73. 
Schute, Swan, 358. 
Schuyler, Fort, 278. 
Scott, Sir Walter, 337. 
Scott, General Winfield, 331. 
Sedgley, 349, 353. 
Shays's Rebellion, 295. 
Sherman, Roger, 167. 
Shield, the, 25. 
Shippen, Edward, 330, 356. 
Shippen, " Peggy, " 257, 330, 355, 356. 
Sidney, Algernon, 21, 42. 
Skippack Creek, 239. 
Slate Roof House, 53. 
Slavery, first protest against, in the 

United States, 63. 
Smith, Thomas, 35. 
Smith, William, 75, 124, 141, 363. 
Solitude, 349, 366, 376. 
Sons of the Revolution, 284. 
Southwark, 249. 
Sower, Christopher, 61-63. 
Sower Bible, 61. 
Spence, Dr., 109. 
Springett, Gulielma Maria. See Penn, 

Mrs. Gulielma Alaria. 
Sprogel, Ludowick C, 87. 
Stamp Act, 116, 117, 156, 209, 218 ; re- 
peal of the, 118, 217, 218. 
Stamp Act Congress, 218. 
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady, 346. 
Statehouse. See Independence Hall. 
Statehouse yard. See Independence 

Square. 
Stenton house, 191, 237, 332. 
Stephens, General, 240, 244, 245, 247. 
Steuben, Baron de, 121, 355, 360. 
Stewart, Deborah McClenahan, 327, 

328. 
Strawberry Mansion, 358. 
Stretch, Peter, 198. 
Stuart, Gilbert, 330. 
Stuyvesant, Peter, 15, 16. 
Sugar Act, 217. 
Sullivan, General, 194, 240-242, 244, 245, 

247. 
Swedes' Church, 76-84, 250. 
Swedish settlers, 11-17. 
" Sweet Briar," 365. 
Syng, Phihp, 104. 

Talleyrand, 360. 

Tamanend, 37. 

Tedyuscung, 373. 

"Tegohtias." See Peters, Judge Rich- 
ard. 

Thomson, Charles, 155, 157, 166, 171, 
172, 203. 

Thornton, Matthew, 173. 



384 



"Tom Moore's Cottage," 362. 
" Towne Hall, " 213. 
Treaty tree, 37, 39. 
Treaty tree monument, 39. 
Tunkers. 58. 

Union Jack, 272. 

United States, treaty with France, 121 ; 
union proposed, 154, 163 ; union ef- 
fected, 205, 206. 

United States, Second Bank of, 151, 
316, 317. 

United States Bank, 149, 295, 315, 349. 

United States Constitution, 123, 206, 

220, 221, 281, 282, 291, 295. 
United States Mint, 295, 308. 
University of Pennsylvania, 75, 104, 196, 

283, 293', 306, 356. See also College of 
Philadelphia. 

Upland. See Chester. 

Valley Forge, 249, 255, 257. 
Valley Green, 372. 

Washington, George, aids in drafting 
the United States Constitution, 281, 
282 ; American flag and, 270, 271, 273 ; 
appointed commander in chief of the 
American army, 188, 199, 203, 206 ; at 
the battle of Germantown, 238, 239, 
243, 246 ; birthday anniversary of, 220, 

221, 287; death of, 299, 300; farewell 
address of, 291, 298; first President 
of the United States, 281, 282, 286; 
first visit to Philadelphia, 186 ; in Con- 
gress, 156, 185, 187, 188, 193, 194-196, 
281, 284-286, 288, 289; home of, in Ger- 
mantown, 288; home of, in Philadel- 
phia, 283, 284; inaugural addresses, 

284, 286; Lafayette and, 191, 192 ; on 
independence, 164 ; portrait of, 271, 
272, 330; president of the Society of 
Cincinnati, 196; presidential levees 



of, 284, 285 ; President of the United 

States, 287, 288, 291, 293, 295, 296; 

treats with the Indians, 286. 
Washington, Mrs. Martha, 91, 186, 195, 

220, 283, 289, 290, 299, 333. 
Washington monument, 199, 350, 351. 
"Washington's Grand Union Flag," 

271. 
Washington's Retreat. See Mount 

Pleasant. 
\\'ayne. General, 240, 242, 244-247, 257. 
Welcome, 26. 
Welsh, John, 370, 371. 
West, Benjamin, 40, 104. 
West, Thomas. See Baltimore, Lord. 
Westminster, treaty of, 16. 
" Weyrauchs Hiigel," 61. 
Wharton mansion, 249. 
White, Caroline Earle, 340. 
White, Major, 243. 

White, Mary. See Monis, Mrs. Mary. 
White, William, 88-92, 221, 260, 269. 
White Marsh, 246. 
Wicaco, blockhouse at, 78. 
Willets, Johnnv, 152. 
William III., 85. 
Willing, Anne. See Bingham, Mrs. 

Anne {Willing). 
Willing, Charles, 260. 
Willing, Thomas, 170. 
Wilson, Alexander, 83, 128, 170. 
Wissahickon Park, 350, 359, 367-373. 
Wister, Caspar, 214. 
Wister, Sally, 327. 
Wister house, 237. 
Witherspoon, John, 169, 302, 374. 
Woodford, 355, 357. 
Wooley, Edward, 217. 
Wythe, George, 164, 165. 

York, Duke of, 16, 20, 23, 24, 27. 

Zoological garden, 214, 366, 376. 



